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Portrait of the Author 
















Skin 

Troubles 

Their Causes, Nature , 
and Treatment 


BY 


BERNARR MACFADDEN 


Author of Macfadden’s Encyclopedia of Physical Culture, 
Strengthening the Nerves, Strengthening the Eyes, Hair 
Culture, Constipation, Tooth Troubles, Miracle of Milk, 
Diabetes, Headaches, Strengthening the Spine, Foot Trou¬ 
bles, and Other Works on Health and Sex 


NEW YORK 

MACFADDEN PUBLICATIONS, Inc. 


1927 





' fit -* 1 


Copyright, 1927 

By MACFADDEN PUBLICATIONS, Inc. 
In the United States , Canada and Great Britain 


Printed in the United States of America 


M-mi 


Cl A999148 


PREFACE 


MARVELOUS organ is the human skin. Its 



^ ^ condition and proper functioning are of first 
importance in preserving and promoting full vigor 
and health in the entire organism. A healthy skin 
usually means a healthy body; an unhealthy skin a 
body in some measure out of order. 

In the condition and appearance of the skin and 
its appendages—the hair and nails—we have a fair 
barometer or indicator of the real body within, and 
of how well and efficiently it is carrying on its 
numerous functions. As health and glowing life 
are pictured in a clear skin, so, also, are ill health 
and abnormal functioning pictured in a skin that is 
blemished or diseased. We instinctively shrink 
from anyone whose skin is dirty, pimply, or affected 
with sores of any kind, for we know that such a per¬ 
son is “unclean” without and within. 

The faultless skin is the skin of health and beauty,, 
reflecting strength and vitality in every part of the 
body. The skin is the friendly mirror of the kind 
of health we possess. And the way we treat or care 
for the skin, from within and from without, to no 
little extent determines the state of the general 
health, and the nature, character and appearance of 
the skin itself. 

In size, the skin is the largest organ of the body. 
And in its work and service it also is one of the most 
important. The complete destruction of any con¬ 
siderable portion of the skin results in quick death 


Vll 


PREFACE 


of the whole being. Likewise, abuse of the skin in¬ 
evitably leads to body decline. Lack of proper care 
is, in reality, abuse of the skin. To meet all the 
requirements for good health of the normal human 
body we must strive for the preservation of struc¬ 
tural and functional integrity of the skin, that this 
vital organ may do its part in maintaining and pro¬ 
moting pulsating health and complete efficiency— 
not only in the skin itself, but in every organ. 

We can improve the structure and the function 
of the skin. Anyone can make an appreciable 
change in both. The skin is in plain sight of our 
eyes for us to study and improve if we but give the 
little thought and attention required to maintain its 
vigor and integrity. To inform its readers how to 
do this is the purpose of this book—not by drugs or 
beauty-parlor magic or plastic surgery, but by com¬ 
mon-sense care along physical culture lines. If the 
reader will follow the simple procedures outlined 
herein he will improve not only his skin and its ac¬ 
tivity but every organ and function of his body, 
developing pulsating vitality and energy that will 
be a fit accompaniment, in fact the only possible 
foundation, of the better skin and complexion that 
will be produced. 



viii 


TABLE OF CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

Preface .vii 

I The Skin and Its Functions .... 1 

II Causes of Diseases of the Skin ... 20 

III Symptoms of Diseases of the Skin . . 32 

IV Common Skin Diseases Due to Systemic 

Disorders.36 

V Skin Diseases Due to Parasites . . . 149 

VI Natural Treatment of Skin Diseases . 172 

VII Hygiene of the Skin. 248 

VIII How to Have a Beautiful Skin ... 266 







LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


SUBJECT PAGE 

Portrait of the Author. Frontispiece 

Cross Section of the Human Skin. 2 

Section of Skin from Sole of the Foot .... 4 

Portion of a Sweat Gland. 7 

A Coil on the Base of a Sweat Gland .... 8 

Section of Skin Showing Hairs and Oil Glands . . 10 

Section of Skin Showing Sweat Glands .... 12 

Section of an Oil Gland.14 

Section of a Papilla of the Skin of the Finger Tip . 15 

Sweat Glands, Cells, and Hair Erector Muscles . . 17 

How Hair Erector Muscles Produce Goose Flesh . 18 

Breathing Exercise.195 

Exercise to Improve Blood Circulation . . . .196 

Exercise for Chest and Spine.197 

Exercise for Trunk Muscles.198 

Exercise for Back, Hips, and Chest.199 

Lungeing Exercise for General Improvement . . . 200 

Bending Exercise for the Abdomen.201 

Exercise for Improving Circulation ..... 202 

General Body Exercise.203 

Bending and Breathing Exercise.204 

General Body Exercise.205 

Bending Exercise for Back.206 

Bicycle Riding Movement.207 

Curling Exercise for Trunk and Shoulders . . . 208 

Hip Exercise for General Development .... 209 

Arm Exercises for Upper Trunk.210 










SKIN TROUBLES 


CHAPTER I 

The Skin and Its Functions 

'I ' HE skin and its appendages, the hair and nails, 
form the external investment of the body. 
This organ is marvelously and ingeniously con¬ 
structed, and serves several very important func¬ 
tions, among which are: a protective covering; an 
organ of sensibility; an organ of elimination; and 
an organ for the control of body temperature. 

There are about 20 square feet of skin on the 
body of a man of average size. This skin is modi¬ 
fied in various localities to serve perfectly its varied 
functions. It varies in thickness in different regions 
of the body, from one-eighth to one one-hundredth 
of an inch, being thickest on the palms of the hands 
and soles of the feet and thinnest over the # joints of 
the body and wherever rapid motion is required, as 
for instance over the eyelids. It is capable of great 
stretching, and it also will contract within a certain 
limit. 

For descriptive purposes, the skin is divided into 

1 


SKIN TROUBLES 



2 


Cross Section of the Human Skin. HS, hair shafts; PA, papillae; P, pore; TN, tactile 
nerve ending; M, hair erector, muscle; NE, nerve endings; HB, hair bulb; F, fat; HP, 
hair papilla; A, artery; V, vein; N, nerve; SG, sweat glands; SH, sheath of hair; CT, 

connective tissue; OG, oil gland; E, epidermis. 















































THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


three layers, as follows: a superficial or outside 
layer, called the epidermis ; a middle layer, called 
the dermis or corium; and a subcutaneous layer; 
which connects the skin as a whole with the tissues 
underneath. 


THE EPIDERMIS 

This layer, called also the scarf skin, and the 
cuticle, is the skin we see. It is in constant contact 
with the outside world and bears the brunt of all 
the pressure and rubbing to which the surface of 
the body is subjected. From the purely mechani¬ 
cal viewpoint, it is the protector of the body. We 
well appreciate this when we blister or friction our 
skin so that the highly sensitive layers beneath are 
exposed. Owing to the constant rubbing and fric¬ 
tion to which this layer is subjected, there is a steady 
loss from its surface through destruction and scaling 
of its cells. This necessitates a steady growth from 
the bottom upward of the cells forming the epider¬ 
mis. The cells of this layer all are of one class, 
called epithelial; but there is considerable variation 
in their shapes. They are cylindrical in form and 
soft in texture at the inner surface; they grow more 
spherical and harder as they approach the middle 
and they become flat, dry and often horny at the 
surface. 

The epidermis is divided into two layers: the 
inner or rete mucosum, and the outer horny or 
corneous layer. The under surface of the inner 
layer is undulating and dips down between and rises 
over the prominences of the dermis or true skin, 
3 


SKIN TROUBLES 


to which it closely adheres. In the cells of this 
layer are found the pigment-granules which give the 
skin its varying tints in different individuals and 
races. This coloring matter is the same for all 
races—white, yellow, red, brown, and black, also in 
the blond and brunette—the different shades being 
determined by the amount of pigment present. An 
albino is one in whom the pigment is totally lacking. 
Such people have pallid complexions, pink eyes, and 
white hair, frequently pinkish pupils. Sunlight and 
the artificial sunlight created by the ultra-violet rays 
and quartz lights cause the deposit of more pigment 
in the skin, causing tan and freckles; but this effect 
is not produced upon the albinos. 



The outer or 
corneous layer 


of the epidermis 


varies in thick¬ 
ness from one- 
eighth of an inch 
on the palms of 
the hands and 
soles of the feet 
-StratumMucosum to one nine- 

-Papuia ‘ hundredth of 

an inch in the 

Section of skin from the sole of the ex ^ ern ^ audi- 

foot. This shows the epidermis and a tory (ear) ca- 

part of the corium containing papillae. na p Wherever 

unusual pressure is put upon the skin, the outer cells 
multiply rapidly and bring about an increased 
thickness of this layer. This fact is readily observe^! 
when soft and tender hands are used for manual 


4 


THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


labor. The palms soon become hard and tough and, 
in some places, hornlike. When constant pressure 
is placed upon a small area there is built up a little 
mound of these cells, commonly known as a corn or 
a callus, the name depending mainly upon whether 
or not there is pain. 

The epidermis is not supplied with nerves, or with 
blood and lymph vessels. There is no feeling in 
this layer, and it may be cut or torn without giving 
rise to any pain. Its cells are supplied with food 
from the watery or serum portion of the blood, 
which seeps through to them from the blood vessels 
in the underlying layer. 


THE TRUE SKIN 


The second layer of the skin is called the dermis 
or true skin, also the corium or cutis vera. It is 
subdivided into two layers, known as the reticular 
and the papillary layers. 

The reticular layer is composed of a closely in¬ 
terwoven network of white fibrous tissue, nonstriated 
or unstriped (involuntary) muscle fibers, and elas¬ 
tic tissue. Its meshes are filled with deposits of fat 
and a structureless substance. 

The papillary layer is formed chiefly of club- 
shaped elevations or projections of the structureless 
substance, constituting the papilla?. In these little 
mounds or papillae are found the terminations of 
the nerves of touch and of thermic or heat (and 
cold) sense. The papillae are most abundant in the 
palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet, 
and average one one-hundredth of an inch in height. 


5 


SKIN TROUBLES 


They are well supplied with blood and lymph ves¬ 
sels. These little mounds are very thickly arranged 
in parallel curved lines, forming ridges in the more 
sensitive regions, while in the less sensitive parts 
they are more thinly and irregularly distributed. 
They are most abundant in the ends of the lingers, 
where the ridges easily are seen. It is these ridges, 
which never are the same in any two individuals, that 
are of such service in linger printing, for identifica¬ 
tion purposes. The ridges on the soles also are 
used for identification purposes, especially of new¬ 
born infants in maternity hospitals. 

THE SUBCUTANEOUS LAYER 

Beneath the dermis or middle layer of the skin 
lies the subcutaneous layer. It consists of an open 
network of fibrous tissue which connects the skin 
with the tissues underneath. In its meshes are em¬ 
bedded a greater or smaller number of fat cells, 
more being found in women than in men. Net¬ 
works of elastic tissue help to make up this layer, 
also. The presence of fat in this layer helps ma¬ 
terially in protecting the underlying tissues, and also 
gives roundness to the body. There is practically 
no fat in this layer on the scalp and in the palms 
and soles; and where great mobility is required, as 
in the eyelids, the fat is entirely absent. 

Sacs containing fluid, called bursa, develop in this 
layer over the joints, where the skin is close to the 
bones and subject continually to pressure from the 
joints in movement. This is the layer that carries 
the large blood and lymph vessels that branch into 
networks in the dermis or true skin. 

6 


THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


There are two sets of glands found in the skin, 
the sweat or sudoriferous glands and the oil or 
sebaceous glands. 

SWEAT OR SUDORIFEROUS GLANDS 

These are minute glands which are very abundant 
in the skin. Their function is to excrete (or secrete) 
the sweat. They are situated deep in the dermis 


Involuntary 
Muscle Fibres 



dells Vessel 

Portion of a sweat (sudoriferous) gland. This is taken 
from the skin of the back of the foot, and is magnified 
several hundred times. 

and subcutaneous layers, each consisting of a tube 
coiled into a ball-like body. They open upon the 
body surface by a duct, which is a continuation of 
this tube through the two layers of skin. The open¬ 
ing of the tube upon the surface is called a pore. 
7 









SKIN TROUBLES 


Duct 


These little glands average about one seventy-fifth 
of an inch in diameter, and are surrounded by a 
plexus or network of capillary blood vessels. 

The sweat glands are very abundant all over the 
surface of the body, there being about 400 to the 
square inch on the back of the neck and over 3000 
to the square inch in the palm of the hand. Their 
function is to extract from the blood the elements 
found in perspiration, and 
to excrete them from the 
body. 

The product of these 
glands, known as sweat or 
perspiration, is a clear, 
colorless and almost odor¬ 
less fluid, slightly alkaline 
in reaction, and having a 
specific gravity of 1.003 
to 1.004. Under certain 
conditions sweat gives off 

A ., . . , a strong odor, and in cer- 

A coil at the base of a . . ... 

sweat gland. Enlarged tain diseases IS acid in 
about eighty times. reaction and very irritat¬ 
ing to the skin. 

The total quantity of perspiration excreted daily 
is estimated at about one quart or two pounds, 
though the amount varies with the nature of the 
food and drink, the amount of exercise, with the 
external temperature and with the nervous tone 
and general strength, etc. The excretion of perspi¬ 
ration is continuous; but it takes place so gradually 
that it passes off by means of evaporation about as 
rapidly as it is formed, as insensible (invisible) 
8 




THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


perspiration. If one exercises vigorously or is sub¬ 
jected to considerable heat, also in certain abnormal 
conditions, such as great weakness, perspiration is 
poured out faster than evaporation takes place, and 
appears as sensible (visible) perspiration. 

The composition of sweat is given as follows: 


Water .995.673 

Urea . 0.043 

Fatty matters . 0.074 

Alkaline lactates . 0.157 

Alkaline sudorates . 1.562 

Inorganic salts . 2.491 


1,000.000 

Urea is a constant ingredient of sweat. The chief 
inorganic matter is sodium chloride, which is the 
same compound as our ordinary table salt, and this 
often is especially abundant in the sweat of those 
who consume much salt. 

Sweating, to some extent, is a process of elimina¬ 
tion, though under ordinary circumstances the 
amount of waste matter eliminated in this way is 
of little consequence. In one thousand parts of 
sweat less than five parts are waste, and nearly one- 
half of this waste is salt. The amount of waste and 
poison excreted in passive sweating—that is, sweat¬ 
ing induced by the application of heat to the body, 
as in a Turkish bath—is considerably less than when 
sweating is active—due to exercise. In certain dis¬ 
eases the amount of poisons eliminated through this 
channel is much greater. The proportion of water 
to the wastes is greater where much water or other 
fluid is taken into the body. 

The direct relation between the skin and kidneys 
9 









SKIN TROUBLES 


Hdiv SHatt 




■Sweat Gland 


is shown by the way in which profuse sweating di¬ 
minishes the amount of fluid eliminated from the 
kidneys. In the summer, although one drinks con¬ 
siderably more 
water than in 
winter, the ex¬ 
cretion of the 
kidneys is great¬ 
ly decreased, due 
-HairFoiiicie to the fact that 
-HdivRoot mos t of the wa¬ 
ter is sent out 
through the skin. 
Conversely, in 
the winter, when 

Vertical section of skin to illustrate hut little water 
the close association of hairs and oil j s eliminated 
(sebaceous) glands. The sweat glands , ‘ , . . 

are shown as they would appear in sec- through the skin, 
tion, but their tubes do not appear, more water is 

eliminated through the kidneys although less water 
is consumed. 

The chief work of elimination performed by the 
skin is the exhalation of carbonic acid gas or carbon 
dioxide. Estimates of the amount exhaled range 
from one two-hundredth to one-fiftieth of that ex¬ 
haled by the lungs. The skin also serves as an or¬ 
gan of breathing, taking oxygen into the body, as 
well as giving off carbon dioxide from the body. 

The excretion of sweat is regulated by the nerv¬ 
ous system. Two sets of nerves are concerned: the 
vasomotor nerves, which regulate the blood supply, 
and the secretory nerves, which stimulate the ac- 
10 



THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


tivities of the gland cells. Generally speaking, in¬ 
creased blood flow and accelerated glandular action 
exist together. At times, however, a profuse 
clammy perspiration occurs with a decrease in the 
blood supply. The sweat centers, located in the 
spinal cord, are excited to action by exercise, by a 
rise of external temperature, mental emotions, by 
many drugs, and by an increase in the temperature 
of blood circulating in the medulla and spinal cord. 

HOW THE BODY IS COOLED 

The body is cooled by the evaporation of the 
perspiration. Any liquid in evaporating takes up 
heat. Sweat, in evaporating, extracts the heat from 
the skin. The skin also serves to maintain the nor¬ 
mal temperature of the body. By regulating the 
amount of blood that comes to the skin the escape 
of heat from the body is controlled. If the body is 
chilled the blood vessels of the skin contract, thus 
forcing the blood away from the surface of the 
body, thereby conserving its heat. When the body 
is hot the vessels in the skin dilate, thus allowing 
larger quantities of blood to reach the surface of 
the body, dissipating more of its heat. 

The body not only regulates the radiation of its 
heat, but also regulates the production of heat, at 
least to a considerable degree. It often happens in 
people of low vitality that the body’s ability to 
produce or conserve heat is reduced and the body 
temperature is below normal. In most stages of 
acute diseases the temperature is above normal, and 
the patient is said to have fever. 

In fever there usually is a greater production of 

11 


SKIN TROUBLES 


heat than under normal conditions, but heat produc¬ 
tion is not nearly so great as that resulting from 
violent exercise. The reason for fever is not so 


Duct of 
Sweat 
Gland 


Tactile 

Nerve 

Ending 



Ductof 

Sweat 

Gland 


Corneual 

layer 


_ Stratum 

Lu ci dum 


Lj G-ei'minative 
Layer 


Dermis 


l J Sweat 
Gldtld, 


Arte: 


A vertical section of the skin chiefly to show the sweat 
glands, papillae, and outer layers of the skin. The body is 
cooled through radiation of sweat on the body surface. 


much increased production of heat as a lessened 
radiation of heat. Thus skin radiation becomes 
suspended, due to some shock to the nervous system. 
A warm bath usually will reestablish skin radiation 
and cause a reduction of temperature. The crisis, 

12 





























THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


or turn, of fever usually is characterized by a re¬ 
sumption of sweating, which had been suspended, 
and consequently a reduction of body temperature 
results as the perspiration evaporates and the fever 
passes. 

Man can endure a higher degree of temperature 
in a dry than in a moist atmosphere. In a Turkish 
bath establishment, for instance, a much higher 
temperature can be tolerated in the dry-air room 
than in the steam room, and more in the steam room 
than in a water bath. In the North and East in 
the United States every summer many people are 
overcome by the heat; but one seldom hears of such 
occurrences in the South, where the temperature 
runs from ten to twenty degrees higher. This is 
because the humidity is less in the South, and this 
permits, perhaps, a faster evaporation from the 
skin. Hence, a more rapid cooling of the body ob¬ 
tains in the South than in the North and East. 

OIL OR SEBACEOUS GLANDS 

These are small glands, each resembling a bunch 
of grapes, embedded in the dermis or true skin. 
Each gland opens through a small duct upon the 
surface of the epidermis or into a hair follicle. 
These are found over all parts of the body surface, 
but are more abundant in the face and scalp, being 
especially abundant over the nose and forehead 
where they often are so active as to give these 
regions a greasy, glistening appearance. 

The sebum or oil secreted by these little glands 
consists chiefly of water, mineral salts and fats, and 
13 


SKIN TROUBLES 


serves to lubricate and soften the skin and hair. 
The oil normally is clear and odorless, but in certain 
conditions of high general toxemia it may have a 
peculiar and unpleasant odor; it quickly becomes 
rancid on the surface of the 
body, as does the perspi¬ 
ration, thus giving a strong, 
pungent and highly dis¬ 
agreeable odor. 

If the oil in the skin is 
deficient the skin becomes 
dry, hard and cracked, and 
the hair becomes brittle 
and breaks or splits easily. 
The oil also prevents ab¬ 
sorption of water and of 
poisons that come in con¬ 
tact with the skin. Exces¬ 
sive bathing, especially with 
warm or hot water and 
soap, deprives the skin of 
most of its oil and produces 
the same effect as is produced by a deficient secretion 
of oil. If the oil glands become choked or swollen 
with oil and dirt the result is a blackhead of popular 
recognition. 

NERVES OF THE SKIN 

The nerves of the skin are of several kinds or, 
rather, have various functions: 1, those that regu¬ 
late the activity of gland cells; 2, those that give 
the sense of touch and pressure; 3, those that con¬ 
trol the muscles of the skin; 4, those by which we 
14 





THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


"Newe 
Fibres 
Around 
Capillaries] 

Capillary 


Capillary 

Loops 


feel heat; and 5, those by which we feel cold. 

Cold is merely the absence of heat, but there are 
two kinds of temperature nerves. They all are 
called thermic nerves. By touching the skin with 
hot and cold needles certain small areas of the skin 
are found to be 
sensitive to 
heat but not to 
cold, while 
other areas are 
sensitive to cold 
and not to heat. 

Most of the 
nerves of touch 
end in the pa¬ 
pillae of the 
dermis as mi¬ 
croscopic, egg- 
shaped bodies. 

Their sensitive¬ 
ness varies with 
their location 
and also with 
training. The 
nerves in the balls of the fingers are capable of be¬ 
ing developed to a marvelously high degree of 
sensibility, as is noticed particularly in naprapaths, 
osteopaths and chiropractors and medical diagnosti¬ 
cians who use their fingers in diagnosing certain dis¬ 
orders of the body or of the spine. What we call 
pain is simply an excess of the sense of feeling, and 
serves in every instance as a warning that some¬ 
thing is wrong. 



CapiUaiy Neyve 


A vertical section of a papilla of the 
skin of the finger tip, showing the 
intricate arrangement of capillaries 
and nerve filaments. 


15 



SKIN TROUBLES 


BLOOD VESSELS 

Two layers of blood vessels exist in the skin. 
One of them is found in the subcutaneous tissue, 
where it forms an intricate plexus, sending branches 
to the sweat and sebaceous glands and to the hair 
roots. The other layer lies in the papillary layer of 
the skin and sends vessels to the papillae. 

LYMPH VESSELS 

Both superficial and deep layers of lymph vessels 
are present in the skin and follow, in a general way, 
the directions of the blood vessels. Spaces filled 
with lymph exist at all levels in the dermis or true 
skin. 


MUSCLES OF THE SKIN 

Both voluntary and involuntary muscle fibers are 
found in the skin. Voluntary muscle fibers are 
found, for instance, in the skin of the face, while 
the involuntary muscle fibers exist in the scrotum 
and nipples and in connection with the hair follicles 
in all parts of the body. The contraction of a hair 
muscle causes the hair to which it is attached to 
rise. Its contraction also forces oil out of the 
sebaceous or oil glands. 

SKIN APPENDAGES 

The appendages of the skin are the nails and 
hair. 

Nails. The nails on the fingers and toes are modi¬ 
fications of the epidermic layer of the skin. They 
are made up of the same epithelial cells, but are 
more flattened, more closely packed together and 
16 


THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


more horny in structure. The nails grow out from 
a number of papilla? situated in a groove or fold of 
the skin. The nail grows from its underside as 



Vertical section of the skin. For clarity the sweat glands 
are made more complete than they would be in such sec¬ 
tion, and the hair erector muscle is more clearly outlined 
than it actually would appear. 


well as from the little fold of skin at its root and 
is, therefore, thicker at its outer end than near the 
root. It moves forward as it grows, moving its 
whole length in four months. Hence, we have three 
new sets of nails each year. The nails serve to 
protect the ends of the fingers and toes, and, in the 

17 














SKIN TROUBLES 


Haii* 

Hair Eve ctov .Follicle. 
. Muscle . ' ' 


case of the fingers, assist in picking up small ob¬ 
jects. 

Hair. Hair, as are the nails, is but a modified 
or specialized portion of the epidermal tissue. It 
is the epidermis grown into fine rods or threads. 
The dermis and epidermis dip down, often even into 
the subcutaneous tissue, forming slender, cylindric 
pockets which are called hair follicles. The lower 
end of the follicle is dilated, forming a bulb; near 
its mouth the follicle is constricted, forming a neck. 

Each hair grows from a mold-like papilla at the 
bottom of a hair follicle. The cap of the epidermis 
formed by such a papilla does not fall off, but re¬ 
mains and is pushed up by the new cells which con¬ 
stantly are forming 
Epidermis beneath it, until it 
becomes a long 
slender rod of epi¬ 
dermis—a hair. 

Both blood vessels 
and nerve fibers go 
to the root or bulb 
from which the hair 
grows. The hair 
will grow unless the 

•g^SSF Areolar papilla is destroyed. 

Glands Tissue As noted before, 

Vertical section of the skin. Ob- ea ch hair is supplied 

serve how contraction of the hair . , . r r T 1 

erector muscle would erect the With a muscle fiber, 
hair and elevate the papilla, thus which causes the hair 
producing “goose-flesh.” , u ^ , ... 

to stand on end 

when one is cold or frightened. 

The hair has several functions. It serves to pro- 
18 





THE SKIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS 


tect the body from sudden changes of temperature; 
doubtless, man’s body once was covered with hair. 
Hair serves also as an aid to the sense of touch, and 
to protect sensitive parts from dust, as, for in¬ 
stance, the eyelashes, and the hair of the nostrils 
and ears. The color of the hair is supplied by mi¬ 
nute glands situated at the root of each hair. When 
these glands become functionless from any cause 
graying or whitening of the hair takes place. 


19 


CHAPTER II 

Causes of Diseases of the Skin 


T"\ISEASES of the skin may arise in and be con- 
fined solely to the skin (primary), or they 
may result from diseases occurring in other parts 
of the body (secondary). They may originate from 
a variety of causes, but may be grouped as due (1) 
to toxins in the body; (2) to defective nutrition; 
(3) to external injuries and infections; and (4) to 
animal and vegetable parasites. 

In this chapter I shall briefly discuss these several 
causes except those due to parasites, reserving the 
parasitic skin diseases for a separate chapter. 

Skin diseases due to toxins in the body constitute 
the largest group of diseases of the skin. I am 
convinced that the important purpose of most skin 
disorders is that of elimination—to get rid of sys¬ 
temic poisons. By this I mean the body chooses 
the skin as its route for expelling the poisons (tox¬ 
ins) from the body, with the result that a skin af¬ 
fection follows. 

The toxins, which circulate in the fluids of the 
body, may originate in the body or they may be 
introduced from without. Poisons are constantly 
being formed in the body as a result of the activities 
of life and of various harmful practices. And if 
these are not fully and regularly eliminated from 
the body they accumulate and cause trouble—the 
types of trouble varying from different causes and 
combinations of causes in different individuals. 

20 


CAUSES OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


For instance, a failure of the kidneys to perform 
their function normally (this being called, in medi¬ 
cal language, renal insufficiency) results in the ac¬ 
cumulation of toxins in the body—toxins that should 
have been excreted regularly in the urine. A slug¬ 
gish skin may have a similar effect of allowing toxins 
to accumulate—in Bright’s disease and diabetes 
poisons are held in the body and often give rise to 
skin diseases. Eczema, in particular, often accom¬ 
panies diabetes. 

When poisons generated in the body or in the 
alimentary tract get into the blood we call this con¬ 
dition autotoxemia or toxemia. Toxemia of one 
character or another seems to be associated with 
practically all forms of skin diseases, even those due 
to parasites—being associated as causes, as results, 
or merely as accompaniments. The substances 
capable of producing toxemia hardly can be num¬ 
bered, as they are so numerous and so varied. 
They may be toxic when introduced into the body, 
or later they may become toxic, as a result of 
changes through which they pass in the digestive 
canal. 

Food, if fresh and pure, is not poisonous when 
taken into the stomach. However, even the best 
food under certain conditions may undergo putre¬ 
faction and fermentation when passing through the 
digestive tract and become poisonous before it is 
absorbed or eliminated; or it may become so poison¬ 
ous from chemical changes as to be directly poison¬ 
ous to the digestive tract itself, from which condition 
the skin may become affected. For this reason all 
diseases of the stomach and intestines (gastroin- 
21 


SKIN TROUBLES 


testinal diseases) and general nutritive disturbances 
—gastric and intestinal dyspepsia, gastric irritation, 
gastrointestinal catarrh, constipation, etc.,—through 
producing intestinal autointoxication, may become 
the cause of some diseases of the skin. 

In all probability constipation and fermentative 
intestinal indigestion are the chief causes of most 
skin diseases. Certain it is that these disorders are 
present in practically every case of eruptive skin 
disorders, as well as skin changes in color, texture, 
etc. 

Any factor in one’s mode of living, such as physi¬ 
cal or mental overwork, sedentary life, physical and 
mental shock, loss of sleep, sexual excesses, over¬ 
exposure to heat and cold, and improper diet that 
derange digestion and other functions of the body, 
will result in the development of toxemia and thus 
in many individuals give rise to skin affections. 
General debility, functional and organic nerve af¬ 
fections, and disordered glandular action also will 
produce toxemia and thus may cause skin diseases. 

Sugars, candies and sirups often cause skin erup¬ 
tions, through oversaturation of the blood with 
sugar and by causing general abnormal chemical 
action throughout the body. The combination of 
a starch and a sugar, such as oatmeal and sugar, 
is a prolific cause. * “Hot cakes” and sirup is such a 
harmful combination, also. Gravies, fats and any 
“rich” foods tend to yield the same effect. Cheese 
may be a cause, on account of its “richness” and 
usual inadequate mastication. In some people cer¬ 
tain fruits, such as strawberries and peaches, when 
eaten will cause a rash of the skin. Many food 
22 


CAUSES OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


adjuncts will do the same, especially spices and 
vinegar. Some foods that are blamed are not them¬ 
selves the cause; often it is the high seasoning taken 
with perfectly wholesome foods that gives rise 
to the eruptions; and often, too, it is right foods 
combined wrongly or taken in excessive amounts. 
Oysters and other shellfish frequently cause rashes, 
especially hives, in some people. The reason why 
they do so is not understood, but it is referred to 
as an idiosyncrasy or hyperserisitiveness of the in¬ 
dividuals so affected, and doubtless is due to some 
degree and type of altered chemistry of the digestive 
secretions or contents or of the blood and other body 
fluids. Fermented drinks, including “hard” cider 
and fermented milk, frequently act as causes. Be¬ 
cause of it’s tannin, which has an injurious effect upon 
the digestion, tea may be a contributing cause of 
skin disorders, also. 

Any disease associated with disorders of diges¬ 
tion and nutrition, or any disorder that itself may 
introduce poisons into the body, may result in dis¬ 
ease of the skin. Among those of the first group 
are rheumatism, Bright’s disease, diabetes, uterine 
disorders, disturbances of menstruation, scrofula, 
and the uric-acid diathesis (condition of susceptibil¬ 
ity to uric-acid disturbances). Among those that 
directly introduce poisons into the body are abscesses 
in any part of the body and puerperal septicemia 
(childbed fever). Some few authorities claim that 
some ulcerative process in the nose underlies every 
case of acne, allowing pus germs to enter directly 
into the lymphatic circulation of the face. Doubt¬ 
less a nasal infection would aggravate an acne, but 
23 


SKIN TROUBLES 


I cannot consider it as a cause, or at most in only 
an occasional case. 

Among the poisons that are introduced into the 
body from without, drugs and serums are the most 
numerous—and the most capable of causing trou¬ 
ble. There are few diseases of the skin that cannot 
be produced by drugs alone. Any serum will pro¬ 
duce skin eruptions, though not in everyone into 
whom they are injected. Serum rashes, as they are 
called, may be of different forms and degrees, and 
apparently may be cured only to recur immediately 
in the same form or in some other form, or at some 
later time. 

Among the drugs that most frequently are re¬ 
sponsible for skin diseases are quinine, copaiba, 
salicylic acid, morphine, turpentine, chloral, many 
of the coal-tar products (most of which are used 
as pain killers, such as antipyrine), iodine, formalin, 
mercury, bromides, arsphenamine, arsenic, bella¬ 
donna, digitalis, veronal, alcohol, tea and coffee. 

The tendency of skin eruptions to follow the in¬ 
gestion of drugs is more marked in some individuals 
than in others. A greatly increased susceptibility, 
especially to small doses, is referred to as idiosyn¬ 
crasy or hypersensitiveness. Imperfect elimination 
of the drug through the bowels and kidneys tends 
to result in skin eruptions, and some drugs regularly 
choose the skin for their exit—or, more properly 
speaking, the body uses the skin for the usual elimi¬ 
nation of some of them. Large doses or long- 
continued administration of the drug causes skin 
eruptions, even when there is no idiosyncrasy to 
small doses. 


24 


CAUSES OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


Many forms of skin eruption may be produced by 
drugs. For instance, belladonna produces eruptions 
resembling those of scarlatina (scarlet fever) ; mer¬ 
cury may produce eruptions resembling those of 
measles, and it often produces those assigned to 
syphilis. A number of drugs produce urticarial 
eruptions (hives), papules (tiny bumps), pustules, 
and even hemorrhagic (blood-filled) eruptions. 
Desquamation, or scaling, results in many cases. 

These drugs are not always prescribed as medi¬ 
cines. One may absorb them while working, or 
from some other source. As an illustration, mercury 
may be absorbed by the body of the workers in fac¬ 
tories where mirrors are silvered and thermometers 
are made, mercury being necessary in the manufac¬ 
ture of these articles. In this manner the skin 
symptoms of “secondary syphilis” and “tertiary 
syphilis” may be presented as a result of this n^pr- 
curial poisoning—the latter stage of syphilis espe¬ 
cially being partly due to mercurial medication, and 
not all to the disease. 

Arsenic is used in wall paper. Some individuals 
are so susceptible to this drug that they develop at 
least some of the symptoms of arsenical poisoning 
merely by being in papered rooms, while paper 
hangers not infrequently develop these symptoms, 
among which may be skin eruptions. 

Quinine is used in many of the popular hair ton¬ 
ics. Through the use of these, individuals who are 
sufficiently susceptible will develop eruptions, es¬ 
pecially of the scalp, though any part of the body 
may be affected. 

Dr. Waugh reports (Journal of the American 
25 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Medical Association, May 17, 1924) the case of a 
man, aged forty, who had drunk Bromo-Seltzer 
regularly, for headaches, for a period of two years. 
He usually took a dose of at least one-half ounce 
daily, though he often took several doses daily. He 
developed an extensive bromide eruption a few 
weeks after he began taking the drug and it re¬ 
mained with him during the whole period. 

Analysis of Bromo-Seltzer made by the chemical 
laboratory of the American Medical Association 
revealed that a teaspoonful dose contains about 
seven grains of bromide. About half an ounce of 
the preparation usually is taken at a dose, and often 
doses are taken several times daily. In a half-ounce 
dose the drinker obtains approximately twenty-four 
grains of bromide, ten grains of acetanilid, and 
about three grains of caffeine. 

Investigation showed that one large retail drug 
store in Chicago sold about 1500 pounds of that one 
drug preparation in a year. Most drug stores dis¬ 
pense a great deal of this supposed-to-be harmless 
product over their soda counters and also sell large 
quantities for home consumption—and the users 
wonder why they have eruptions or some other 
symptoms of bromide poisoning! 

Various drugs and chemicals are used in fur 
manufacture. Many cases of skin disease, especially 
of the neck and shoulders, result from contact of 
the skin with the drug-treated furs. Workers in 
furs also are affected by the drugs used. Skin affec¬ 
tions following working with furs or the wearing of 
furs are attributed to paraphenylenediamine, which 
is used to produce black color, and quinone, which 
26 


CAUSES OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


produces brown. Among the workers, the skin be¬ 
tween the fingers, the corners of the mouth and of 
the eyelids, the openings of the nose, and the 
creases of the neck particularly are affected by the 
dye substances; and wearers of furs may be affected 
with some of the same disturbances. 

Urticaria and different types of edematous skin 
eruptions are among the disturbances that have been 
observed to follow the use of insulin in diabetes. 
These often compel the discontinuance of the treat¬ 
ment. The trouble resembles serum sickness, re¬ 
sulting in desquamation (scaling), followed by 
erythroderma (redness of the skin). 

Skin affections often follow the use of atfsphena- 
mine, an arsenical preparation used in the treatment 
of syphilis, and occasionally necessitates the use of 
some other preparation or method of treatment. 

Eruptions of the skin often follow nickel poison¬ 
ing by those engaged in the nickelplating of metals. 
Some authorities, however, consider the eruptions to 
be due to the high concentration of free sulphuric 
acid in the plating bath, and not to the nickel. 

Thus it will be seen that there are many ways by 
which poisons may be taken into the body without 
one being conscious of the fact. And these poisons 
may and often do result in disease of the skin at any 
part of the body and also often cause disease of 
other organs. 

Many times skin eruptions arise in the course of 
a disease, usually being referred to as “complica¬ 
tions” or “sequels” of the disease, when actually 
they are due to the drugs and serums employed in 
treatment. For instance, ui^tfcairial eruptions fre- 
27 


SKIN TROUBLES 


quently occur in rheumatism. The salicylates are 
the chief drug reliance in this disease, and these of 
themselves produce urticarial eruptions. 

In determining the cause of eruptive diseases of 
the skin the possibility that the skin disease may be 
due to drugs and serums always must be kept in 
mind. Some drugs leave their effects for years. 
For instance, skin eruptions due to mercury and the 
bromides may continue long after the use of these 
drugs has ceased; and some individuals seem never 
to be able fully to eliminate mercury from their 
bodies. 

Irritants, such as acids, strong soaps, mustard, 
Spanish fly or cantharis, croton oil, aniline dyes, 
carbolic acid, certain salves, iodoform, and other 
counterirritant and antiseptic preparations and 
washes often are responsible for disease of the skin. 

Mechanical injury—cuts, bruises, tearing, etc., 
and burns, scalds and the like—cause local skin 
troubles. Burns caused by the sun’s rays, thera¬ 
peutic lamps, x-rays, and radium, often result in 
severe injury to the skin, while especially the last 
two named produce troubles that are eradicated 
with great difficulty. 

Among external agents that may act as causes 
are exposure to strong winds, to sudden changes of 
temperature, to dust and chemicals, and soot and 
other drift of various kinds that are carried by the 
wind. Because the skin of the face is most exposed 
to all these irritants this accounts for the pre¬ 
dominance of facial lesions over those of other parts 
of the body. 

Contact with flour and dough often causes skin 
28 


CAUSES OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


troubles. Baker’s dermatitis is common among 
bakers, and some especially sensitive housewives 
who do their own baking may be similarly affected. 
It is said that at no time is a baker- exempt from the 
disease, though most attacks begin near middle age, 
and the more serious cases occur in bakers of an age 
of sixty years and over. The dough, sugar, salt, 
cream powders, sirups, acid phosphate of lime, and 
other ingredients of bakers’ products are the irritat¬ 
ing factors. Those who lead more or less cleanly 
lives are less often troubled with baker’s dermatitis. 
Cancer of the skin also is very common among 
bakers. 

Artificial leather, used in making hat bands and 
for other purposes, may cause skin troubles, those 
used in hat bands producing affections of the skin 
of the forehead, and those used on the inside of 
shoes causing trouble with the skin of the soles of 
the feet. 

Inflammation of the hands and thighs may re¬ 
sult from the use of matches made of phosphorus 
substitutes—not infrequently the thighs being 
affected by those who scratch matches on the under 
surface of the raised thigh. 

Poison ivy or poison oak, poison sumac, dog¬ 
wood, and poison primrose are frequent causes of 
dermatitis. Those affected by poison ivy, especially, 
seem particularly liable to acute recurring attacks at 
the slightest exposure, and this may continue for 
several years. 

Septic or putrescent matter from decaying vege¬ 
tables and meats coming in contact with the skin 
often cause local infection and give rise to various 
29 


SKIN TROUBLES 


forms of skin eruptions. The infection may spread 
if strict cleanliness is not observed. Syphilis 
primarily is a skin infection, caused by coming in 
contact with septic matter. The secondary stage of 
this disease is chiefly a skin eruption, while skin 
affections often continue throughout the tertiary 
stage. 

Skin eruptions accompany or form a large part 
of many acute systemic diseases, such as typhoid 
and typhus fevers, meningitis, rheumatism, measles, 
scarlet fever, smallpox, chicken pox, etc. 

It already has been pointed out that skin diseases 
often are due to digestive disorders or wrong eating 
habits that allow good food to spoil after it enters 
the body. It also has been shown that many whole¬ 
some foods cause skin troubles in some individuals 
who have an hypersensitiveness or idiosyncrasy to 
them. 

A defective diet—that is, one lacking in vitamins 
and mineral salts—often is the direct cause of a skin 
disease. Pellagra is one skin disease that has been 
definitely traced to a deficient diet. Any diet that 
lowers the standard of health will render the skin 
liable to disease. Likewise, any factor, such as 
overclothing, or a lack of sunshine and air, that 
makes the skin sluggish, will render the skin less 
resistant and hence more likely to become diseased. 
Lack of cleanliness is a fruitful source of skin 
disease. Especially those who work in dust of al¬ 
most any kind will be liable to pimples and other skin 
troubles if strict cleanliness is not observed. 

Among the various causes I have mentioned are 
wrong habits of eating and lack of proper cleanli- 
30 


CAUSES OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


ness, outside and inside. These come first because 
our common skin diseases are those resulting from 
toxemia; and toxemia is due chiefly, as stated be¬ 
fore, to wrong foods, wrong combinations of foods,, 
excessive foods, and to inadequate elimination 
through the bowels, skin, kidneys, and lungs. We 
need no other proof that such is the case and that 
skin diseases are due largely to the toxemia—to 
disordered or lowered nutrition—than the quick 
clearance of the skin of all blemishes except long¬ 
standing and deep-seated scars, merely through a 
change in diet alone, and a further hastening of a 
good complexion by the addition of other natural 
factors of correct living that will be outlined in the 
chapters on treatment of skin diseases and hygiene 
of the skin. 

Those who would avoid skin disease should keep 
the body clean inside and outside, and should keep 
it properly nourished, give it air and sunshine, and 
avoid all weakening, poisoning, and irritating in¬ 
fluences. 


31 


CHAPTER III 


Symptoms of Diseases of the Skin 

A DISEASE is a group of symptoms belonging 
together—a “symptom complex.” Every skin 
disease presents a number of symptoms. It is well, 
therefore, to know the names of the most important 
of these and to be able to distinguish between skin 
diseases and symptoms of skin diseases when you see 
the names in print. Most of these names are Latin 
or Greek equivalents for simple English names. 
The use of the foreign words is more impressive to 
the average person, and with such names the dis¬ 
eases seem to be of considerable more consequence 
than when the simple well-known terms are used. 
For many of the skin diseases, however, there are 
no “common” names, and without some knowledge 
of Latin or Greek the names employed are meaning¬ 
less. 

Skin lesions (structural changes) are of two 
classes: primary and secondary. The primary le¬ 
sion is the initial manifestation, while the secondary 
lesion results from “natural” or accidental modifica¬ 
tion of the primary lesion. Vesicles, papules, pus¬ 
tules, tubercles, macules, wheals and tumors are 
primary lesions. Scales, crusts, scars, stains, ulcers, 
fissures, and excoriations are secondary lesions. 

Symptoms also are called subjective and objec¬ 
tive. The subjective symptoms are those known 
only to the patient. Examples of this class are itch¬ 
ing, a sense of heat, burning, smarting, tingling, and 
32 


SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


pain. The objectives are those that can be seen or 
felt by the physician or others. Except for pruritis, 
the following are objective symptoms. 

Anemia is a term applied to a reduction of the 
blood in the skin—though more often it is applied 
to the general condition of the blood. This condi¬ 
tion of the skin may be persistent or transient. 
Transient anemia follows hemorrhage, fainting, 
shock and nervous states, such as anger, fear, etc. 
Persistent anemia is associated with disease, either 
of the skin, or of some of the other organs of the 
body. 

Blebs or bullae are round and irregularly shaped 
elevations ranging in size from a pea to an egg, and 
contain a clear or opaque liquid. 

Crusts (crustae) are brownish and yellowish par¬ 
ticles of dried exudation. 

Eryth ema means redness of the skin. A sunburn 
or a sharp slap produces erythema. Blushing is 
erythema of the face. Many things will produce 
this symptom. It may be transient or persistent. 

Excoriations (excoriationes) are abrasions or 
scrapings of the skin, or denudations of the epider¬ 
mis. They usually result from injury or scratching. 

Fissures (rhagades) are chaps, cracks or wounds 
in the dermis or epidermis, due either to injury, dis¬ 
ease, or exposure. 

Hyperemia is a congestion of the skin without 
inflammation. The blood vessels of the skin be¬ 
come overfilled. Hyperemia is divided into active 
and passive forms, and these are subdivided into 
external and internal symptomatic hyperemia. 

External active hyperemia (excess arterial 
33 


SKIN TROUBLES 


blood) is due to the action of an irritant locally. 
The hyperemia following the use of a mustard 
plaster or other “burning” substance is of this kind. 

Internal symptomatic active hyperemia is due 
to disturbance of the nervous system or to some of 
the internal organs. 

External passive hyperemia (deficient venous 
drainage) may be caused by exposure to heat or 
cold, pressure, contusions, circulatory obstruction, 
as from bandages, tight clothing, belts and garters, 
and by chemicals. It is characterized by blueness of 
the skin, called livido. 

Internal symptomatic passive hyperemia or 
cyanosis is a blueness of the skin resulting from 
some systemic disturbance affecting the respiratory 
or circulatory system and interfering with the ve¬ 
nous drainage. 

Macules are spots of red or brown or other color 
on the skin. They are of various shapes and sizes 
and without elevation or depression. 

Papules are raised spots on or in the skin. They 
are solid, and vary in size from as small as a pin¬ 
head to as large as a pea. 

Pruritis is itching. It is a subjective symptom—• 
known only to the patient. Burning, tingling, 
smarting, a sense of heat, and a sense of pain, or of 
a crawling insect on the skin (formication) also are 
known only to the patient and are subjective symp¬ 
toms. 

Pustules are raised spots containing pus. They 
vary in size from a pinhead to a pea or larger. 

Scales (squamae) are dry bits of skin shed from 
the surface of the epidermis. The process of scal- 
34 


SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN 


Ing and shedding is often called desquamation. 

Scars (cicatrices) are new formations in tissues 
in those parts where there has been loss of tissue. 
They are not composed of all the original skin tis¬ 
sues, but only of the connective tissue. Hence their 
hardness, whiteness, and inelasticity. 

Stains (pigmentationes) are discolorations of 
the skin which remain after the causative lesions 
disappear. 

Tubercles (tubercula) are solid, deep-seated ele¬ 
vations of the skin, often the size of a pea or even 
larger, usually much smaller. 

Tumors (tumora) are of various sizes and 
shapes and grow out from the corium or the sub¬ 
cutaneous tissue. 

Ulcers (ulcera) are open suppurating sores on 
the skin and in the subcutaneous tissues. They are 
of various shapes and sizes and depths. 

Vesicles (vesiculae) are commonly called water 
blisters. They are similar to blebs but much smaller, 
varying in size from a pinhead to a small pea, and 
contain a clear, semitransparent or opaque liquid. 

Wheals (pomphi) are irregular pinkish eleva¬ 
tions with an accumulation of serum in their tissues. 
They are transitory in nature, sometimes lasting 
but a few moments, sometimes for hours. 

These definitions and brief descriptions should 
be kept in mind as the various skin affections are 
studied, in order that the terms may be better under¬ 
stood. 

Other symptoms associated with skin affections 
are not a part of the skin disease, properly speak¬ 
ing; hence, only skin symptoms have been discussed. 
35 


CHAPTER IV 


Common Skin Diseases Due to Systemic 
Disorders 

O UR common skin diseases are due mostly to 
toxins or poisons, auto-generated within the 
body. Aside from those brought to the skin by the 
blood there are others that come in contact with the 
skin from some external source. Among the other 
nonparasitic skin diseases are those due to toxins 
only indirectly, perhaps sometimes not at all, such 
as atrophies and hypertrophies of the skin or of 
some element or appendage of the skin, and hemor¬ 
rhage into the skin. For the sake of convenience 
all these forms have been included in this chapter 
and arranged alphabetically. By the descriptions 
of the diseases their toxic or nontoxic nature will be 
understood. 


ACNE (PIMPLES) 

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the oil glands 
of the skin and of the follicles of the fuzz-like hairs 
attached to the oil glands. Acne is of toxic origin. 
It is characterized by inflammation of, and pus de¬ 
velopment in, these glands and follicles, and fre¬ 
quently by their destruction, with resulting scar 
formation. 

Various qualifying terms have been added to the 
word acne, to describe the most prominent features. 
However, all these presumably different forms in- 
36 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


dicate the same process, the different manifestations 
depending upon the difference in “soil” upon which 
they develop—the nature and extent of the tox¬ 
emia, including inherited encumbrance, the type of 
individual, his occupation, past and present medi¬ 
cation, etc. 

I shall confine my descriptions to the true forms 
of acne. Chief consideration will be given here to 
the common superficial form —acne simplex, and the 
common deeper seated form —acne indurata. Sep¬ 
arate attention will be given to acne rosacea, which 
is a compound process. 

Acne Simplex (simple acne). This is the usual 
form of the disease, hence the other common name, 
acne vulgaris . The “vulgaris” means ordinary, or 
the usual type, and not “vulgar” as this word is 
usually understood to mean. 

This acne affects girls and women more often 
than boys and men, though many youths have it in 
aggravated form. It is frequently associated with 
perversion of the usual glandular activity of puberty 
and adolescence, often being aggravated before, 
during or after menstruation. It should be stated 
here that the cause of acne is not past or present 
masturbation, in either sex, contrary to the belief 
of many. This belief often causes more worry and 
self-consciousness than the unsightly skin condition 
itself. During adolescence the skin and entire body 
undergo much change in the development to ma¬ 
turity. In the skin the oil glands become more 
active and hair begins to grow over various regions 
due to increased activity of the sexual and other 
glands that yield internal secretions. Pimples are 
37 


SKIN TROUBLES 


likely to develop at this time because of the skin’s 
excessive activity. The most likely age for appear¬ 
ance is between the fourteenth and twenty-second 
year. 

But this is not all that causes acne. The period 
of general and skin adjustment is one of inordinate 
appetite; also it is the sweet-tooth age. Amazing 
amounts of foods of all kinds, especially of candies 
and sweets, are consumed, bolted and washed down 
in the frenzied haste and restlessness of youths of 
adolescent age. These conditions, combined with 
hasty and deficient external cleansing and the filthy 
condition of the digestive tract, especially of the 
lower bowel, are what bring on pimples. The 
awakened sexual impulses and the stimulating diet 
and great toxemia all tend to lead to masturbation 
at this time, hence the usual erroneous conclusion 
that acne results from masturbation. If acne de¬ 
velops in later years, as at the change of life, it 
usually existed earlier but for a few years was quies¬ 
cent or disappeared entirely. 

The regions affected are the forehead, cheeks, 
lower jaw and chin, sometimes the chest and 
shoulders, upper arms, and even down the back to 
the thighs. Blackheads usually form the “nucleus” 
or center for the beginning of the inflammatory 
change. Around this nucleus a papule develops, 
which becomes a pustule. However, there may be 
no blackheads, and in many cases there are black¬ 
heads without the development of acne. After a 
crust forms on a pustule it later falls off, leaving a 
redness for a few days, or a depression, or a scar. 
In many cases pustules do not develop, the condition 
38 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


remaining in the papule stage, in which case the 
papules are absorbed after a few days. On the 
same skin and without regularity may be found all 
the stages—blackheads, papules, pustules, crusts, 
pittings and scars. There are no general symptoms 
of acne, except usually constipation or constipation 
alternating with diarrhea, and a strong “animal 
odor,” acid odor, or a disagreeable “strong,” oily 
odor. 

The scars may remain permanently or be gradu¬ 
ally smoothed out. Sometimes no scars are left. 
Scrofulous or undernourished individuals are likely 
to have remaining scars. A stain often remains for 
some time, eventually fading out in most cases. 

Upon opening or squeezing the acne lesion are 
found blood, pus and sebaceous substance, and, 
when present as a start of the papule, the black¬ 
head. Healing usually is rapid after the contents 
have been evacuated, though other lesions may be 
going through the various stages elsewhere. Evac¬ 
uation of the contents usually takes place sponta¬ 
neously if the pustules are not molested. 

The disease is not self-limited; it always runs a 
more or less chronic course. There is no age at 
which it will disappear spontaneously, though quite 
often it becomes less pronounced after the age of 
25 or 30, and in some cases the eruptive stage ceases 
entirely after this age. Change in the mode of liv¬ 
ing or spontaneous chemical adjustment throughout 
the body may cause the disease to subside; but it is 
very unwise to wait for such possible voluntary 
cure, for instead of correction the trouble may be¬ 
come more deep-seated, more general, more disgust- 
39 


SKIN TROUBLES 


ing, more difficult of correction. The simple (super¬ 
ficial) acne may give way to the deeper type, or the 
two forms may be associated. This last condition 
is the usual one, the deeper form developing after 
the superficial form has existed for variable periods 
of time, either one or the other becoming predomi¬ 
nant. 

Acne Indurata. This differs from the simple 
form mainly in the degree and extent of the symp¬ 
toms. Blackheads may be present, but they do not 
form the central point of the eruptions as they so 
frequently do in the simple form. 

The skin undergoes pronounced changes in the 
indurated acne. The oil glands are involved, but 
the areas of hardening vary from the size of a pea 
to as large as a hazelnut, begin deep below the 
epidermis, and develop in from one to seven days. 
The inflammation involves the surrounding tissues. 
The color usually is deep red or purplish. Several 
adjacent glands may be involved at once, giving the 
appearance of a boil or large abscess. There may 
be little or much pus in the cavity. The lesions do 
not rupture spontaneously. Opening and evacuat¬ 
ing the contents do not constitute a cure of the 
lesion, usually, for it continues to refill until nature 
has eliminated all the waste matter through this 
channel. 

Scar formation may be pronounced, being more 
likely and more noticeable when there has been 
much squeezing or direct pressure, and when the 
tissue tone is poor. Sometimes fibroid changes 
cause the scars to resemble small fibroid tumors. 
Usually there is gradual fading of the scars, which 
40 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


eventually will undergo normal scar contraction. 

The same regions affected by the superficial form 
are affected by the indurated form, but the trunk is 
more often affected than in the simple form. There 
may be few or many lesions. The disease persists 
for years. All phases of the lesions may be present 
at the same time. This form occurs usually after 
the age of 25. 

In both forms there may be a greasy, oily skin, 
usually yellowish in color, with the hair follicles 
dilated. There may be associated with either form 
an oily eczema or dermatitis, greasy scales or fatty 
crusts forming in patches on the skin. Itching is 
apt to be present in these cases. Any other form 
of skin disease may be associated with any form of 
acne. 

Malnutrition Acne (acne cachecticorum). This 
form of acne, also called scrofulous acne (acne 
scrofulosorum), usually occurs in individuals who 
are scrofulous, or undernourished, or extremely 
emaciated (marasmic), and occasionally in appar¬ 
ently healthy individuals. It usually develops with, 
or in individuals who have, tuberculous glands in 
the neck, or scrofulous eruptions, or both. The 
trunk and lower extremities usually, but occasion¬ 
ally also the arms and face, are affected. Some¬ 
times the hands are covered with nodules and 
pustules, and become puffy and purplish. The lesions 
are soft, flat, large, dark red, purplish or blue, and 
contain serum and pus, sometimes some blood. 
Crusts form. 

Artificial Acne (acne artificialis). Papules and 
pustules may be produced by the internal use of 
41 


SKIN TROUBLES 


bromides, and iodides, or by the external applica¬ 
tion of tar. Bromide acne is papules, changing to 
pustules and tubercles, frequently around and 
pierced by a hair, and appearing usually on the 
scalp and eyebrows, sometimes on the face. Iodide 
acne is acute hard papules, enlarging and becoming 
pustules, appearing in locations affected usually by 
simple acne. There are also symptoms of iodism 
(iodine poisoning) such as running nose, headache, 
metallic taste, increased saliva, irritation of the 
stomach. Any iodine or bromine preparation may 
cause acne, which usually stops when the drug is 
discontinued though it may continue for weeks or 
months. Tar acne (acne picea) often develops on 
surfaces where tar has been applied, and results 
from blocking of oil-gland exits. Papules form 
after the inflammation of the follicles. Pustules 
often develop. Chrysarobin, often applied for 
ringworm, psoriasis or eczema, may produce a simi¬ 
lar acne, as also may ointments applied to surfaces 
that come in contact, as in the groin and armpits. 

Atrophic Acne (acne atrophica) is acne vulgaris 
in which the lesions are followed by scars or small 
pits. 

Papular Acne (acne papulosa) is acne vulgaris 
with papular eruptions predominating. 

Pustular Acne (acne pustulosa) is acne vulgaris 
with papules developing into pustules. 

Overgrowth Acne (hypertrophic acne) is an 
acne where the skin becomes thickened from over¬ 
growth of connective tissue. 

Scurvy Acne (acne scorbutica) is a papular 
acne in which hemorrhages occur into the skin. 

42 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


ACNE ROSACEA 

This disease consists of two processes—an acne 
superimposed upon a rosacea. The latter is a 
chronic congestive disturbance of the nose and parts 
of the face, temporary at the start, later becoming 
permanent, and characterized by redness, dilation 
of the minute blood vessels of the skin which may 
show a network, and occasionally overgrowth of the 
connective tissue and glands of the skin. The acne 
lesions that follow upon the rosacea are secondary, 
and indicate inflammation of the oil glands, as in 
acne vulgaris. 

The chief causes are a marked toxemia, aggra¬ 
vated in some cases by anemia, or menstrual dis¬ 
orders, or exposures to either extreme of tempera¬ 
ture, and by intemperance. 

The nose and adjacent regions of the cheeks usu¬ 
ally are affected, though sometimes it extends over 
the cheek bones and even to the forehead, but the 
skin immediately around the eyes escapes. 

At first any of the above conditions may produce 
a temporary redness. Later the redness returns 
more often, and gradually with less obvious reason, 
until it becomes permanently established. Upon 
pressure the redness leaves and returns slowly, in¬ 
dicating sluggish circulation. Occasionally the area 
has an angry red appearance, the color becoming 
bluish or purplish upon exposure to cold. In time 
the networks of minute blood vessels develop, usu¬ 
ally first upon the wings of the nostrils, becoming 
progressively more pronounced and covering a 
larger area. The nose sometimes becomes enlarged, 
43 


SKIN TROUBLES 


and occasionally it reaches an enormous size. 

The skin may be oily or dry. There are itching 
and burning with the skin dry. In course of time 
acne in some form develops upon the congested 
areas—acne rosacea then being established. 

The course is slow and chronic. It does not ter¬ 
minate spontaneously. 

Women are affected more often than men, usu¬ 
ally after the age of 35. It may develop at some 
menstrual change. Sedentary life and constipation 
are prominent causes—hence it appears often in 
dressmakers, seamstresses, milliners, and others 
who receive too little open air and physical activity. 
The disturbed digestion and nutrition of sedentary 
workers, together with the frequent tendency to 
lunch on sweets and pastries or to munch on these 
between meals, have much to do with producing the 
specific toxemia, defective circulation, and skin 
sluggishness that lead to this disorder. 

ACNE VARIOLIFORMIS 

This term is applied to a form of acne with le¬ 
sions that resemble those of smallpox, both in ap¬ 
pearance and in tendency to scar the skin; hence the 
name (variola being the medical name for small¬ 
pox). In this form of acne there is a chronic 
inflammation of the hair follicles, with papules lead¬ 
ing to pustules and then to localized death of in¬ 
volved tissues, and finally pitted scars. It affects 
mainly the forehead, along the hair margin; also 
the scalp, face and neck, sometimes the shoulders 
and breastbone. When the papules break down a 
crust forms on the ulcerated area, leaving a red 
44 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


depression when it falls off. This resembles a 
smallpox pit. 

This form develops usually after the age of 35, 
more often in men than women. It is found chiefly 
in poorer classes, and because it generally is local¬ 
ized on the forehead it is thought to be an infection 
from unclean hat bands in such cases. In practically 
every case there is a fatty, greasy skin, due to over¬ 
activity of the skin oil glands from toxemia and in¬ 
adequate cleanliness. 

Regardless of the type of acne, the prognosis 
may be regarded as favorable. Proper treatment is 
necessary, persistently carried out. Since the dis¬ 
ease is inclined to continue and advance, with more 
and more and progressively deeper markings of and 
changes in the skin, it never is advisable to wait for 
a possible (but not probable) spontaneous correc¬ 
tion of the trouble. Even after great improvement 
or complete cure it is possible for the original causes, 
if repeated, to reproduce the trouble. Hence, one 
must live in such a way as to avoid recurrence. And 
the change of habits that corrected the trouble usu¬ 
ally will be the best to adhere to for permanent 
freedom from the acne in the future. 

The type of acne, its duration, degree and extent, 
the age of the patient, the specific nature of causes 
and the possibility of their removal, the treatment 
adopted and the care with which it is carried out— 
these are among the factors that govern the time 
necessary for a cure, also the degree of correction, 
whether this be only partial, or complete. The 
treatment, both general and special, will be con¬ 
sidered in Chapter VI. 


45 


SKIN TROUBLES 


ACRODYNIA 

This is an acute epidemic nonfebrile erythema 
presenting eruptions on the skin, and thickening, 
pigmentation and scaling of the skin, and accom¬ 
panied by nervous disorders. It is considered to be 
related to pellagra, having some symptoms similar 
to it, and is supposed to be due to the action of 
toxins upon the nervous system. The symptoms 
are gastrointestinal irritation, swelling of the face 
or extremities, erythematous eruptions on the hands 
up to the wrists and the feet up to the ankles, in¬ 
volving as well the fingers and toes, skin symptoms 
already mentioned, redness of the eyes, sensory dis¬ 
turbances (such as the sensation of crawling insects 
on the skin), pain in the fingers and toes, sticking 
pains in the palms and soles, feeling of weight in 
the extremities, hypersensitiveness, and sometimes 
anesthesia. The epidemics usually have followed 
widespread influenza. Most cases should recover 
within a short time under proper care. 

ALBINISM 

This is a congenital absence or deficiency of pig¬ 
ment in the skin, hair, and eyes. The cause is not 
known, except that it is inherited, though an albino 
may be born to normally pigmented parents. Par¬ 
tial albinism is found chiefly in negroes, this con¬ 
dition commonly being referred to as piebald skin. 
In complete albinism the skin is normal in texture 
and thickness, but is white. The hair is white, but 
not of the whiteness of hair changed by age; it also 
is fine and silky. The pupils show pinkish or red 
46 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


from the blood vessels behind them. The iris or 
portion of the eye usually colored is a light pinkish 
or a very delicate blue. The eyes are very sensitive 
to light. These people used to be contemptuously 
called “cockroaches,” because of the fact that they 
appear mostly at twilight, when they can see better. 
No means of overcoming or preventing the condi¬ 
tion is known. 

ANGIONEUROTIC EDEMA 

This disease is also called acute circumscribed 
edema, which better describes it. Osier’s medical 
textbook says that it is simply urticaria (hives) 
“writ large,” hence a name sometimes given to it, 
giant urticaria. It is a neurosis, the main char¬ 
acteristic of which is a transient, well-defined edema 
or swelling of the skin appearing without apparent 
cause. The cause of the disorder is not known, 
though it may be said definitely that underlying the 
condition there is nervous instability or some nerv¬ 
ous irritation that results in the circulatory dis¬ 
turbance, and that, quite often at least, certain foods 
or conditions of the digestive tract may be respon¬ 
sible for the nervous irritation. In other words, it 
is most likely due to some form of toxemia, or at 
any rate a toxemia gives rise to each acute appear¬ 
ance of the edema in those individuals of certain 
forms of instability of the nervous system. The ex¬ 
act condition permitting the edema to take place 
seems to be a temporary dilation of the skin blood 
vessels, through which there is an escape of the 
serum of the blood. 

In this condition swellings appear suddenly upon 
47 


SKIN TROUBLES 


the surface of some part of the body, especially the 
hands and face. There is no discoloration of the 
skin. Associated with the swelling are usually well- 
marked digestive disturbances. There may be an 
attack of hives before the edema, as it seems to be 
related to hives. The swellings usually last but a 
short time, disappearing and leaving no trace upon 
the skin. Attacks may occur every few weeks. 

Medical authorities consider the disorder very 
resistive to treatment. It does not endanger life 
unless it involves the mucous membrane of the lar¬ 
ynx, when it may cause suffocation. While there 
may be recurrences for many months, especially in 
the more pronouncedly neurotic or nervously un¬ 
stable individual, most cases can be cured by meas¬ 
ures that reduce toxemia and tend to strengthen 
and stabilize the nervous system. 

ANTHRAX 

Anthrax is the most widely spread and the most 
serious infectious disease of animals transferable to 
man. It is transferred to man principally from the 
bodies or parts of the bodies (horns, hide and hairs, 
etc.) of animals that have had the disease. Those 
most liable to the infection are butchers, stablemen, 
farmers, sheepmen, veterinary surgeons, and those 
who work at wool sorting, sheep shearing, mattress 
making, and with hides, wools, horns, etc. 

At first the affected area becomes irritable, itchy, 
occasionally painful, red and puffy. Pains shoot 
about in the region, and red lines develop beneath 
the skin. A blister develops, ruptures, and becomes 
crusted over. Soon develops a vesicle with a yellow 
48 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


or dark discharge. It bursts, contracts, and oozes 
a watery serum. A depressed scab then forms, sur¬ 
rounded by a wreath of small blisters, with other 
blisters near by. After several days pus forms. 
The scab loosens, leaving a depressed suppurating 
area. The healing is slow. The hands, face and 
neck are the usual areas affected. There may be 
general symptoms similar to those of any other 
acute fever disease. The fatality is high under usual 
treatment, but under proper treatment the outcome 
should be favorable in most cases. 

ATROPHY OF THE SKIN 

Atrophy means a wasting of a part from lack of 
proper nutrition. It may result from an insufficient 
blood supply, from a deficiency of some of the food 
elements, from the absence of some of the non-food 
essentials of normal nutrition, or from the presence 
of some factor that impairs nutrition. Among the 
non-food factors necessary to normal nutrition are 
sunshine, fresh air, and the various hormones 
secreted by the endocrine or ductless glands. 

Atrophoderma is the general term for atrophy of 
the skin. It is a condition in which the bulk of the 
skin is diminished or some of its component struc¬ 
tures are reduced or degenerated. Most of the skin 
atrophies are listed alphabetically—albinism, bald¬ 
ness, glossy skin, gray hair, hard skin or sclero¬ 
derma, leprosy, senile skin, and white skin (or ac¬ 
quired leucoderma). 

Atrophic lines (atrophoderma striatum) is 
merely the condition of white lines in the skin, usu¬ 
ally as a result of skin stretching by pregnancy, 
49 


SKIN TROUBLES 


obesity, tumors or dropsy. This is the symptomatic 
variety. Those occurring in pregnancy are called 
lineae albicantes. There is a form called idiopathic 
—originating without known cause. 

Atrophoderma neuriticum will be considered as 
Glossy Skin, its common name, in its alphabetical 
position in this chapter. 

BARBER’S ITCH 

This is an inflammatory disease of the hair fol¬ 
licles of the bearded region. It sometimes is called 
sycosis vulgaris, and tinea sycosis. It begins as a 
scaly patch of red, upon which pustules soon form, 
these being usually perforated by hairs. The pus¬ 
tules do not rupture, but dry and form crusts. 
There are itching, burning and soreness. The erup¬ 
tion comes out in drops. The hair becomes luster¬ 
less and brittle and loose. The disease yields slowly 
to proper care. 

BALDNESS 

Medically this condition is called alopecia (Greek 
for “the mange of foxes”), and calvities (pro¬ 
nounced cal-vish'e-ez, being Latin for bald). It is 
a partial or complete loss of hair and may be due 
to many causes. In congenital cases baldness usu¬ 
ally is partial. Partial or complete baldness is the 
rule in the aged, the hair beginning to thin at the 
brow or crown and progressing from this point. 
It is considered a normal change due to senility, and 
is caused by some degree of atrophy of the scalp 
and the hair follicles. Baldness may be premature, 
developing between the ages of 20 and 35. The 
50 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


cause is not known except that heredity plays the 
most important part. Hair lost rapidly immedi¬ 
ately after many fever diseases usually is fully re¬ 
stored when the health again becomes normal. 
Loss of hair also often accompanies syphilis, ane¬ 
mia, diabetes, chronic intoxications and other 
diseases, as well as local scalp diseases, such as 
seborrhea, psoriasis, folliculitis, and scalp ring¬ 
worm. 

Once bald-headed always bald-headed is the rule, 
except where the baldness is due to acute disease. 
Treatment is of little or no avail. Prevention is 
the only safe plan, though as the condition is very 
greatly an hereditary one preventive measures must 
be begun early in life and continued religiously to be 
appreciably effective. Some cases have been cured 
by going bareheaded, others by a raw food diet. 
The general health must be built up. Local treat¬ 
ment consists of massage, hot and cold applications, 
pulling the hair by running the fingers through it 
while closed, and sunlight. I refer the reader to my 
book “Hair Culture” for more detailed treatment. 

Localized Baldness (Alopecia Areata). In this 
condition there are localized areas of baldness with¬ 
out skin lesions. The cause is not known, but some 
consider it to be due to parasites, others consider it 
a neurosis. It appears usually in early adult life. It 
is largely confined to the scalp, but sometimes affects 
the eyebrows, eyelashes and beard, and less often 
all parts of the body surface whereon hair grows. 

The patches appear suddenly or gradually. The 
skin gradually changes from normal to pale and 
atrophied. 


51 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Children usually recover, but young and older 
adults rarely do. In cases where recovery takes 
place the duration of the disease is variable, re¬ 
covery usually requiring several months, sometimes 
years. 

BIRTHMARK (NEVUS) 

Birthmarks or nevae are congenital abnormalities 
of the skin, of limited area, having an excess of pig¬ 
ment and overgrowth of one or more elements of 
the skin, especially the blood vessels and connective 
tissue, but also of the hair, fat, nerves and lym¬ 
phatics. There are several varieties, but they all do 
not require consideration. 

Mother’s Mark (port-wine mark, capillary nevus, 
angioma simplex). This is the most important 
nevus. It is a congenital form, composed of an 
aggregation of capillaries. The skin is bright red 
or purplish in color, but not elevated or depressed. 
The marks may be small or large, sometimes cover¬ 
ing several inches. The usual location is the face. 

Cavernous Nevus. This form also is congenital. 
It is composed of cavernous tissue. The marks are 
well defined, elevated above the normal skin, and 
are dark red in color. They may be as small as 
a pea or as large as an adult hand. They often are 
pulsating, from the presence of erectile tissue and 
blood vessels. 

The cause of these abnormalities is not known, 
but the superstitious folk “know” that they result 
from some condition having had an undesirable in¬ 
fluence upon the mother’s mind during pregnancy. 
Various shapes and colors are imagined to repre- 
52 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


sent some object that particularly affected the 
mother while pregnant. Authorities all agree that 
there is no such influence that causes these marks. 

Except in earliest infancy (see the chapter on 
treatment), there is no satisfactory treatment other 
than the electric needle or some other form of 
cautery, or the knife; and since the cause is unknown 
no known measures may be taken to prevent the 
condition. 


BLACK EYE 

Ecchymosis is the medical term for black eye, 
though it also is applied to any other purplish or 
black-and-blue patch in the skin caused by changes 
in the blood that has passed from the blood vessels 
into the skin. Black eye usually results from a blow 
that is sufficient to bruise the tissues and rupture 
minute blood vessels, though it may result from 
severe paroxysms of coughing, as in whooping cough 
in children and chronic bronchitis in adults. It 
sometimes develops without apparent cause. 

A black eye occurring in an adult without appar¬ 
ent cause may indicate degeneration of the arterial 
walls. With it there may be hemorrhage into the 
eyeball. Such a spontaneous ecchymosis may save 
one from a cerebral hemorrhage, or it may precede 
a brain hemorrhage. There should be physical, 
mental and emotional quiet in these cases, either 
to prevent or to minimize any brain hemorrhage. 

The usual black eye clears up without treatment 
within a week or ten days. If either hot or cold 
compresses are applied immediately and continued 
for a few hours severe discoloration will be avoided. 
53 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Ice compresses usually are easiest to apply and are 
really more effective; but neither ice nor water com¬ 
presses will have much effect if delayed. Warm ap¬ 
plications are more apt to aggravate than relieve. 
Scraped raw potato, bound on by a cloth and 
changed every 30 to 60 minutes, makes a very 
satisfactory compress even after discoloration has 
taken place. The same treatments may be given 
to ecchymosis in any part of the body. Time is the 
best remedy, however, for removing these discolora¬ 
tions. 

BLACKHEADS (COMEDONES) 

Blackheads are plugs of oil or sebum which form 
in the ducts of the oil glands in the skin. There 
usually is an overgrowth of the lining membrane of 
the ducts, and added to the plug may be scales from 
this membrane. 

Blackheads appear usually at puberty or in young 
adults, sometimes in children and even in babies, as 
well as later in life. The increased gland activity 
of adolescence accounts somewhat for the more fre¬ 
quent appearance of blackheads at this period of 
life. There also usually are digestive and nutri¬ 
tional disorders, such as anemia, constipation, and 
stomach and intestinal disturbances. (See Acne 
Simplex.) Hasty and inadequate, often infrequent 
bathing and local skin cleansing doubtless are con¬ 
tributing causes. Dust and dirt help form or color 
the blackheads, and exposure to air darkens the 
plugs. Workers in factories and workshops, fire¬ 
men, stokers, handlers of coal and ashes may have 
pores clogged in such a way as to resemble black- 
54 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


heads, probably associated with the true, internally 
caused blackheads. 

The blackheads may be either slightly elevated 
or slightly depressed, and are yellowish, bluish, 
brown or black in color, and occur chiefly on the 
nose, cheeks and forehead. Other locations are the 
temples, ears, neck, back, and chest, and occasionally 
wherever oil glands are present. They may be 
single, or with a “head” attached to two or more 
plugs. They may be few or numerous. Upon pres¬ 
sure a slender body exudes, colored at its outer end, 
its body yellowish or white, its lower end white and 
soft. The term “flesh worm” has been applied to 
this body. If not removed blackheads may remain 
for a long time, unchanged in character; but fre¬ 
quently they give rise to inflammation around the 
gland ducts, and may result in acne pustules—acne 
vulgaris. It is the likelihood of skin inflammation 
and acne development, aside from the unsightliness 
and interference with normal gland activity, that 
makes blackheads of some importance. 

Underlying abnormal conditions require correc¬ 
tion. All cases can be corrected by proper, persist¬ 
ent treatment. Local treatment should include ex¬ 
ternal cleanliness with pure vegetable soap and a 
coarse cloth or flesh brush, carefully applied, facial 
massage, alternate hot and cold applications, es¬ 
pecially hot applications for several minutes, fol¬ 
lowed by gently squeezing out the plugs, then ice 
or very cold applications. The soft balls of the 
fingers or thumbs are all the “instruments” that 
should be used for the squeezing. As this treat¬ 
ment makes the skin red, it should be used only 
55 


SKIN TROUBLES 


when one expects to remain out of public gaze for 
several hours, and be free from exposure to cold 
and wind. 


BOILS 

Furuncle is the medical term for boil. Frequent 
intermittent outbreaks are a condition called furun¬ 
culosis. A boil is an inflammation of the skin and 
underlying connective tissue surrounding a hair 
follicle or oil gland, leading to the formation of pus 
and death of the central portion or core, which in 
time is expelled. 

Men, especially youths, are more subject to boils 
than girls or women. Those who wrestle or exer¬ 
cise on gymnasium mats, also those who wear roll- 
neck sweaters in their athletic training, are very 
likely to have boils. Impaired health, and certain 
diseases, especially diabetes, but also Bright’s dis¬ 
ease, typhoid fever, and eczema may be complicated 
by boils. Exposure to natural or artificial heat may 
cause boils, though when apparently due to stoking 
and other such exposures more likely it is the in¬ 
sufficient cleanliness that is responsible. Furuncu¬ 
losis especially is due to impaired health and marked 
toxemia. Most people subject to boils eat too 
heartily, particularly of starches and sweets and 
rich foods of all kinds, and usually they are con¬ 
stipated. In other words, they are unclean inside 
and outside, especially inside! 

The boil develops rapidly, full development being 
reached within three or four days. There is a dull 
aching pain, becoming rapidly more intense, with 
severe throbbing and a feeling of tightness, these 
56 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


symptoms being worse at night. Within seven to 
ten days the boil becomes “ripe.” Usually the core 
is expelled spontaneously when the boil cap ruptures. 
When it is expelled a small cavity of considerable 
depth remains, this healing quickly and leaving a 
small scar. Occasionally there are slight fever and 
other symptoms of a general nature. A “blind boil” 
is one in which a core is not formed. 

Especially in children, boils may develop often 
enough to cause emaciation, from the loss of sleep, 
the pain, general toxic condition, and the large 
quantities of pus discharged. 

Boils may appear anywhere on the body except the 
palms and soles. Styes are small boils on the eyelid. 
Boils on the face are likely to be accompanied by 
grave symptoms. The usual locations are the neck 
and back, also the thighs and armpits. 

Every case of boils or furunculosis can be cor¬ 
rected entirely within a comparatively short time. 
It is a matter of correcting the health. For both 
general and local treatment, that given for Car¬ 
buncle will be effective. (See also the treatment 
chapter.) 

Oriental Boil. This is an infectious ulcer occur¬ 
ring in tropical countries, but it has no relation to 
the common boil. The beginning is a papule, de¬ 
veloping soon into a nodule or large tubercle, which 
breaks down to form an ulcer. Healing is sponta¬ 
neous, but may not take place for six months or a 
year. Very likely lack of suitable sanitation and 
hygiene, including diet, is responsible, in some meas¬ 
ure at least, for the affection. Body cleansing will 
greatly shorten its duration. 

57 


SKIN TROUBLES 


BURNS 

Medically, burns are grouped under the term der¬ 
matitis ambustionis, meaning heat dermatitis, the 
second word meaning to scorch. There are three 
stages of burns: 1, an erythema, with only very 
superficial destruction, and with pain as the chief 
symptom, an example of which is one of our sim¬ 
plest burns; 2, a bullosa, from deeper burns, where 
blisters form, deeper tissues are affected, pus de¬ 
velops, and scars are formed upon healing; the pain 
may be, and usually is less pronounced, also the 
tenderness, and there may be some symptoms of 
shock; and 3, a sloughing dermatitis, from more 
severe burns of greater area, which is likely to result 
fatally. The most serious and fatal results probably 
are due to interference with skin activity, toxin or 
ptomaine formation and absorption, and destruction 
of a great many white blood cells. 

Any of these degrees of burns may be produced 
by dry heat (flame or hot articles), moist heat 
(water, steam, oil, etc.), sunburn, “live” or charged 
electric wire, and x-ray apparatus. Mucous mem¬ 
branes may be burned in various ways. The mucous 
membrane of the eye is burned in numerous ways. 

Local treatment of burns may be by any of the 
following applications: baking soda, boric acid, 
olive oil, equal parts of egg white and sweet oil, 
Carron oil (equal parts of linseed oil and lime- 
water), or ice or very cold compresses. Second and 
third degree burns should be treated by a surgeon 
or physician. Sometimes heat is more soothing than 
cold, in other cases cold will be better; either moist 
58 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


or dry applications may be better. Boric acid in 
sterile vaseline in strength of from 10 to 25 per 
cent, or boric acid water solution, or baking soda in 
strong concentration in water or in vaseline will be 
very helpful. Scientific care is best in severe burns 
that every precaution may be taken to prevent in¬ 
fection. (See also Sunburn.) 

CALLUS (CALLOSITY) 

A callus is a hardened, thickened, horny condi- 
tion of a local area of the skin resulting from over¬ 
growth of the corneous layer of the epidermis, 
produced by friction or intermittent pressure. They 
appear on the feet and hands, toes and fingers. The 
best examples of the results of intermittent pressure 
and friction are the calluses upon the hands of ax- 
men, oarsmen, hay pitchers, mechanics and others 
who regularly or for some time use tools requiring 
a firm grip. Improperly fitting shoes and wrong 
positions of the feet will cause calluses on the feet. 
But calluses may appear upon any other part of the 
body if there is sufficient cause. 

Calluses occur as dense, horny, slightly elevated 
patches, grayish or yellowish in color, and of various 
sizes. They gradually merge into normal skin. 
They are likely to be symmetrically distributed upon 
the soles or palms, or both, also upon the fingers 
and toes. There rarely is any inflammation, but 
may be with violent injury. Sometimes they are 
painful, especially when fissured. 

Calluses undergo spontaneous involution when 
pressure is removed and avoided. Any foot defects 
should be corrected and shoes should be properly 
59 


SKIN TROUBLES 


fitted to the feet. Frequently the callus may be cut 
away with a sharp knife, especially after soaking 
the callus for several minutes in very hot water. 
One of the best remedies is salicylic acid as a plaster 
or in flexible collodion, either form to be prepared 
by your druggist. After applying either for several 
days the part is bathed for several minutes in very 
hot water, after which the softened dead tissue can 
be easily removed with a dull blade. The procedure 
may need to be repeated several times, but very 
likely no additional treatment will be necessary— 
except, of course, removal and avoidance of the 
cause. 

CARBUNCLE 

A carbuncle resembles a boil but is much more 
extensive. It is a limited inflammation involving 
deeper tissues as well as the skin, having a deep-red 
knob that is very painful. This breaks down, its 
contents being evacuated through several openings. 

The cause is supposed to be an infection by germs 
that reach the lower skin tissues through a skin 
wound or hair follicle. But without a high degree 
of toxemia this condition could not develop. It 
occurs in constitutional diseases, particularly in dia¬ 
betes. One is predisposed to it by any condition or 
factor that lowers the vitality. 

At first a fairly rapidly increasing painful knob 
appears on the skin, of a deep-red color, flattened 
on top. Around it the skin is hardened, painful, 
and dusky red. Within seven to ten days pus forms, 
the top sloughs, and through the craters are dis¬ 
charged the contents. General symptoms are pro- 
60 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


nounced, such as may occur in any pus condition. 

Favorite locations are the nape of the neck, back 
and buttocks. Other locations may be affected, also, 
especially the back of the forearm and the scalp 
and face. 

The prognosis depends upon the patient’s vitality 
and age, the severity of the general symptoms, the 
location and extent of the carbuncle, and the degree 
of tissue destruction. Attempts at forced feeding 
(frequently advised), great absorption of poisons 
generated in the decaying tissues, hemorrhage, ex¬ 
haustion, and secondary abscesses developing near 
by may cause fatal termination. The old and de¬ 
bilitated may succumb quite easily. 

General treatment will be that for skin diseases 
in general, with the fast and daily enema as the 
initial step, and gradual return to a more ample 
diet, which should be an eliminating one, yet nourish¬ 
ing. The strict milk diet would be excellent after 
the fast. Cod-liver oil is a splendid addition to the 
diet. Sea bathing would be of advantage after con¬ 
valescence is well established. Diabetes, if present, 
must be treated. 

Severity of symptoms somewhat governs local 
treatment. Either hot or cold applications, as pre¬ 
ferred, will reduce the pain and inflammation. Hot 
moist compresses are excellent, changed frequently 
enough to be kept hot. It often is advisable, even 
necessary, that the carbuncle be treated surgically, 
because of the density of the overlying skin. The 
depressed scar is apt to be somewhat deforming 
when following surgical treatment, but this may be 
a necessary risk to run. Proper treatment instituted 
61 


SKIN TROUBLES 


early should take care of most cases in such time as 
to make operation unnecessary. 

CHAFING 

Medically this is called intertrigo. It is a hyper¬ 
emia caused by the friction of surfaces that come 
together. It is especially frequent in children and 
fat people. The combination of friction and per¬ 
spiration, as under hanging breasts, between the 
upper part of the thighs, and around the sexual 
organs, is a very frequent cause. There is a diffuse 
redness, a sensation of heat, and usually some de¬ 
gree of moisture. A definite dermatitis results when 
the cause is continued. Treatment consists of care¬ 
ful cleansing and drying, removal of pressure when 
possible, and application of a simple dusting powder. 

CHAPPED SKIN 

Chapping of the skin is the bane of winter for 
many people as sunburnt skin is the summer’s bane 
for others. It very frequently is observed, espe¬ 
cially in chapped hands, cheeks and lips. It occurs 
usually in those having delicate skin, and may be or 
may not be associated with eczema. The causes 
usually are exposure to cold air and wind, especially 
without careful drying of the skin after bathing, and 
the overuse of hot water and soaps. Sometimes the 
broken skin becomes very rough and painful, some 
of the cracks or fissures being quite deep. Bleeding 
often occurs. Further washing of the hands tends 
to aggravate the trouble when the hands are af¬ 
fected. 

To prevent chapping, take few hot baths, and 
62 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


always follow each with some form of cool or cold 
bath after rinsing off all soap. Dry thoroughly. 
Use natural foods, with a minimum of salt. Use 
an abundance of fruits and green vegetables, but a 
comparatively small amount of citrous fruits. Milk 
and all dairy products are of service in keeping the 
skin soft, and may be taken in considerable amounts 
with benefit. The milk diet is excellent. 

The use of such a diet and insuring good bowel 
elimination without tendency to diarrhea are impor¬ 
tant; also applications of olive oil, sweet cream, cold 
cream or camphor ice will be temporarily soothing. 
Exercise and sun and air baths will be of great 
value. Usually what will prevent will cure if fol¬ 
lowed for a sufficient length of time. 

CHILBLAIN (PERNIO) 

Some class chilblain and frostbite as one condi¬ 
tion; but there is a difference. (See Frostbite). 
Chilblain is the chronic condition, frostbite the acute 
condition resulting from the same causes. Chilblain 
is a skin inflammation and swelling due to exposure 
to damp cold, found in various grades from a mere 
shortly lasting redness to a deep destruction of 
tissues. There are, in the usual case, redness, swell¬ 
ing, itching and intense burning, the parts being 
shiny and cold to the touch. Vesicles and deep 
ulceration may occur. The fingers and toes may 
develop a sausage-like appearance. When exposed 
to artificial heat there are intense stinging and burn¬ 
ing or itching. The extremities, including the ears 
and nose, usually are the parts affected. The chief 
cause of the trouble is sudden change from a low 
63 


SKIN TROUBLES 


temperature to a high temperature. Those with 
poor circulation or anemia are most likely to be 
affected. Especially predisposing to chilblain are a 
lymphatic constitution, with more or less “water¬ 
logged” tissues, malaria, and hemophilia (bleeder’s 
disease). 

In treating exposed parts to prevent chilblain, 
restore circulation gradually by immersion first in 
snow or ice water or very cold water, applying 
gentle friction upward (for frosted fingers and 
toes) ; gradually raise the temperature of the water 
to slightly warm; dry thoroughly but gently; then a 
soothing application may be made of camphorated 
alcohol or boric acid. Blisters should be opened by 
a prick and drained, and they and any ulceration 
resulting should be covered with vaseline and boric 
acid or fresh Carron oil. 

To increase the circulation and reduce suscepti¬ 
bility to chilblains, there should be regular walking 
and exercise; cold or quite cool bathing daily, with 
thorough drying, a nourishing but not too heavy 
diet; plenty of wholesome fats, including cod-liver 
oil; and warm hose, shoes and gloves, all of ample 
size—and these must be supplied after chilblain has 
developed. Salt-water bathing is excellent, espe¬ 
cially if sweating accompanies chilblains. Pledgets 
of cotton, dry or soaked in boric acid solution, may 
be placed between fingers and toes when these mem¬ 
bers are affected. (See also Chapter VI.) 

COMPLEXION FAULTS 

Here I purpose to consider those discolorations 
without eruptions that frequently cause many 
64 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


people, especially women, greater concern than the 
more serious underlying condition. 

Blueness, or Cyanosis. This seems to be normal 
with some people, especially bluish lips. But ordi¬ 
narily it is an abnormality, due to deficient air 
(oxygen) reaching the blood, with an excess of 
carbon dioxide in the blood. Sometimes there is 
interference with normal capillary circulation, or a 
chemical alteration of the blood. The skin may be 
from a leaden-white or gray-blue to a deep purple. 
Combined with jaundice there is produced a green¬ 
ish cast; with anemia, ashen-gray hues. 

In these cases it is well to consult a physician for 
examination, as there may be obstruction of air 
passages, or reduced lung area, or some condition 
preventing full respiratory movements; or some 
disease of the heart or of the blood vessels; or 
intestinal conditions that cause a toxemia. The 
underlying condition must receive attention. 

Florid Complexion. “Full-blooded” people are 
inclined to floridity, which becomes more pro¬ 
nounced at or after middle life, and during physical, 
mental or emotional stress. Causes of temporary 
floridity, if continued, will produce chronic florid 
complexion. The causes are tight girdles, collars 
or other constrictions, exposure to heat, sun or 
wind or a combination of harsh weathering condi¬ 
tions, very hot, rich and spiced foods, excessive 
food, especially meats, hot or heating beverages, 
and alcoholics. To avoid or remedy the trouble, 
avoid or remove the causes. Moderate eating of 
proper, truly wholesome foods, adequate bowel 
activity, fairly copious water drinking, avoidance of 
65 


SKIN TROUBLES 


constrictions, regular exercise, tonic cool or cold 
baths—these and any other factor for maintaining 
or restoring general health will be necessary. 

Sallowness. We usually associate sallowness 
with anemia; and anemia is the usual cause, espe¬ 
cially in brunettes. But toxemia, especially with 
constipation, is a frequent cause. Any digestive dis¬ 
turbance, also confinement indoors out of sunlight 
and fresh air may cause it. Especially in blond girls 
greensickness will cause sallowness; in brunettes the 
color is greenish gray instead of the usual sallow¬ 
ness. During convalescence from many diseases 
there is very apt to be an earthy complexion. One 
should adopt all the health-giving factors suggested 
in the final three chapters; by doing so at least 
some suggestion of color will appear in the skin, 
though it may be next to impossible for some of 
the “thick-skinned” individuals to bring real color 
into their cheeks. 

Yellow Skin. There is a yellowish tinge to the 
skin in greensickness (chlorosis), not uncommon in 
girls under the age of 20. There is alteration in 
the blood, the condition being a form of anemia, due 
to improper food, poor hygiene, constipation, over¬ 
work, menstrual irregularities, and mental anxiety. 
Correction of these causes, especially providing 
suitable food, more air and sunlight, and more rest 
and relaxation will correct the anemia, after which 
the skin will return to its normal color. In per¬ 
nicious anemia there is a lemon-yellow color of the 
skin. This will disappear if the anemia is overcome 
or improved. Any type or degree of anemia in 
Brunettes is likely to produce a yellowish hue of the 
66 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


skin. Hemorrhages have the same effect. The skin 
is restored to normal when the blood becomes nor¬ 
mal. In functional liver diseases the palms may be 
yellow, returning to normal when the liver activity 
is corrected. (See also Jaundice, under Pigmenta¬ 
tions.) 

COLD SORE 

See Fever Blister. 

CORN (CLAVUS) 

A corn is an hypertrophy, and is merely a small 
callus or thickening of the outer skin, generally re¬ 
sulting from the friction of poorly fitting shoes, 
developing usually on the toes over bony promi¬ 
nences, occasionally upon the soles, fingers and 
palms. Hard corns usually develop over the joints 
of toes; and soft corns usually develop between the 
toes, where they become softened by the moisture 
of perspiration and insufficient drying after bathing. 
Intermittent pressure and friction cause both forms. 
They are small, clearly defined, horny elevations 
about the size of a pea, often very painful. 

The condition can be fully corrected only when 
properly fitting shoes are supplied. These must be 
long and wide enough and made right at the heel. 
When proper shoes are provided the corns may 
disappear in a short time without further attention. 
Felt rings over the corns give temporary relief. 
The corns may be wholly or largely removed with 
a large knife after soaking in hot water (with or 
without baking soda) for 20 to 30 minutes, in 
which case the parts should be thoroughly dried 
67 


SKIN TROUBLES 


and felt rings applied and changed daily until the 
sensitiveness has subsided. 

Soft corns often disappear after proper shoes 
have been worn for some time. Direct treatment 
consists in soaking the part in hot water for ten 
minutes, then gently scraping off the soft upper skin 
layers, followed by careful, thorough drying, and 
the toes kept apart by soft rolls or tufts of cotton 
after dusting borated talcum between them. Lint 
soaked in boric acid solution placed over a hard or 
soft corn and covered with oiled silk and kept on 
overnight is soothing, and it softens the corn for 
removal. Occasionally inflammation develops. This 
requires rest, with applications of warm moist boric 
acid dressings. If pus has formed it should be al¬ 
lowed to escape or should be gently removed with 
sterile cotton or gauze, then thorough cleanliness 
observed. Especially in toxic, poorly nourished and 
elderly individuals trimming a corn too close may 
result in a serious complication. 

CYSTS IN THE SKIN 

The usual skin cysts are those in the hair follicles 
and oil glands or their ducts due to retention of the 
oil, found mostly in the scalp, neck and forehead. 
Dermoid cysts are found occasionally—congenital 
cysts filled with oil or other fluid and sometimes 
having in them hair or other skin elements or ap¬ 
pendages. The larval stage of hog tapeworm may 
form a skin cyst. Small millet-seed sized white 
cysts of the sweat glands are not uncommon. Usu¬ 
ally cysts should be opened and their sacs removed 
or destroyed. 


68 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


DERMATITIS 

Dermatitis (cutitis) is inflammation of the skin 
caused by some irritant. 

Atrophic Dermatitis. This is a diffuse or 
localized atrophy of the skin, involving the hair and 
nails, affecting mainly the extremities and face. It 
is thought that any dermatitis may cause it, espe¬ 
cially when there is a structural defect of the skin. 
External irritants seem to give rise to the affection 
in some cases, but the exact cause is not known. If 
the individual received proper care from the start 
it is unlikely that atrophy would develop or that the 
dermatitis would be of any consequence. 

Epidemic Dermatitis (epidemic eczema). This 
is an acute inflammatory skin disease, beginning with 
hardened, bright-red papules grouped around hair 
follicles. Vesicles may form on the papules, rupture 
and have moist surfaces, and leave thickened patches 
upon drying. After from three to seven days the 
lesions run together, sometimes covering the entire 
body, the skin becoming very red, dry and with thick 
scales, sometimes crusts. Pints of scales may be 
given off in a day’s time. There is intense itching. 
After from three to eight weeks a gradual return 
to normal begins, though the skin may remain pig¬ 
mented for months, covered with a smooth, shiny 
and inelastic skin. In some cases the nails and the 
hair of the body (not of the head) may be shed. 
The vital organs may be affected. Fatalities occur 
in about 10 per cent of the total cases. The cause 
is not known, though it probably depends upon 
toxemia and abnormal metabolism. 

69 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Scaling Dermatitis of Infancy (dermatitis ex- 
coriativa infantum). This dermatitis of very young 
babies resembles the adult form just described. It 
begins about the fifth week of infancy, develops 
quickly, has excessive scaling, and leaves the skin 
red and usually dry. The mucous membranes may 
be raw and crusted. Usually nutrition is very de¬ 
ficient. The cause is unknown. About half of the 
cases die, perhaps most of them from malnutrition. 
If the first two or three weeks of the disease can be 
survived there is good chance for recovery. The 
body should be kept warm, preferably wrapped in 
cotton, with some bland sterile oil employed in the 
dressings. Breast milk should be given if possible, 
but the mother’s diet must be of the best. 

Many-formed Dermatitis (dermatitis multifor¬ 
mis, dermatitis herpetiformis). This is a chronic 
inflammation of the skin manifesting in groups and 
combinations of reddened, papular, vesicular, pus¬ 
tular and bullous eruptions, and Burning and itching, 
the last-named symptom often being very intense. 
The eruptions appear suddenly or gradually. In 
severe cases fever, chilliness, general uneasiness, and 
other symptoms of acute diseases are present. 
There is a marked tendency for one form of erup¬ 
tion to pass into another form. 

The chief forms are: Erythematous, with crops 
of diffuse red patches associated with much itching 
and burning. The color usually is raspberry-red, 
mottled with yellowish, brownish tints. Bullous 
form, having crops of large irregular bullae, usually 
without surrounding inflammation. The bullae tend 
to group. Patches of vesicles and erythema often 
70 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


appear. Itching and burning are intense. Papular 
form, with groups of papules in crops, with ery¬ 
thema, vesicles and scratch marks. This is the 
rarest form. Pustular form, having clusters of pus¬ 
tules, resembling the next form but with pustules 
instead of vesicles. Vesicular form, the most com¬ 
mon form, having groups of irregular-shaped ves¬ 
icles, occurring in crops. There may be erythema, 
pustules and scratch marks. Itching is intense. It 
develops usually between the ages of 30 and 60 and 
may last for years. Physical, mental or nervous 
shock, toxemia, childbed fever, kidney disease, dis¬ 
ordered menstruation, pregnancy, and enervation all 
are considered as causative factors. Mixed form 
(multiform type) is a commingling of various com¬ 
binations of lesions, in crops, with intense itching. 
The pustular, bullous and mixed forms often are 
associated with marked general symptoms. The 
prognosis of any form is favorable, but healing is 
slow. 

Drug Eruptions (dermatitis medicamentosa). 
This term is applied to those eruptions caused by 
drugs taken by mouth, or rectum, or by subcutaneous 
injection. Some people are especially susceptible to 
certain drugs, some to several drugs, especially those 
of a certain class. A single overdose, in many 
people, may cause an eruption, or suddenly after 
small doses have been taken for some time a rash 
may appear. Breast-nursed babies may develop 
rashes from drugs the mother is taking. Antipyrin 
often produces a generalized papular eruption; ar¬ 
senic, an erythema, or papular, vesicular or pustular 
eruptions; atropin or belladonna, a rash resembling 
71 


SKIN TROUBLES 


scarlet fever, on the face, neck and chest and accom¬ 
panied by dry throat, fast pulse, and sometimes 
large pupils; borax, an eruption resembling psoria¬ 
sis; chloral, a hivelike eruption or an erythema; 
copaiba, macular, papular, or hivelike eruption; 
cubebs, small papules on an erythema; potassium 
bromide, an acneform eruption, with papules and 
pustules; potassium iodide, commonly a widespread 
acneform eruption bright red in color and sometimes 
an erythema, or a papular, pustular, hivelike or 
purpuric eruption; quinine, usually an erythema, 
sometimes an acneform eruption; salicylates, an ery¬ 
thematous or urticarial eruption; serums very often 
produce rashes, varying in extent and nature, often 
accompanied with marked constitutional disturb¬ 
ance. As a rule the eruption quickly disappears 
upon removal of the drug, though a serum rash 
may last for a long time. Bromide and iodide rashes 
often linger for months. (See also Vaccination Der¬ 
matitis.) 

Dermatitis from External Poisons (dermatitis 
venenata). This includes those dermatoses due to 
direct or indirect contact with poisons of an animal, 
vegetable or mineral nature. Among these poisons 
are poison ivy, poison oak, poison dogwood, poison 
sumac and poison elder, the nettle, oleander, rue, 
and smartweed. All forms of lesions may be pro¬ 
duced. The itching and burning produced by poison 
ivy and some other poisonous plants are well nigh 
intolerable. The symptoms of ivy poisoning are 
similar to an acute eczema, the parts becoming red 
and swollen, small papules and vesicles soon appear¬ 
ing. It develops usually on the hands and face, per- 
72 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


haps within a few hours, often not for several days 
after exposure to the plant. The eruption usually 
subsides within a few days, though the skin may re¬ 
main pigmented and sensitive for many weeks. 

Usually skin inflammation will be prevented if 
the exposed parts are washed thoroughly with hot 
water and soap immediately after exposure. A 
general hot bath should be taken, also, and the cloth¬ 
ing thoroughly aired and brushed, and sunned if 
possible. In treating this dermatitis (from any 
poisonous plant), first evacuate the blisters, using 
care not to spread the contents over other parts. 
Boric acid compresses are relieving in many cases; 
but compresses of a strong solution of Epsom salts 
usually are better for both the itching and the in¬ 
flammation. Borated talcum or powdered corn¬ 
starch is very soothing after the inflammation has 
subsided. 

X-ray Dermatitis. This is due to exposure to 
rays from the X-ray diagnosing or treating appa¬ 
ratus, and it requires or should have professional 
care. Its development indicates carelessness or lack 
of sufficient knowledge of the apparatus by the oper¬ 
ator. Some very severe burns are produced by the 
Roentgen (X-ray) rays, and they may be extremely 
stubborn and resistive to treatment. 

DRY SKIN 

See Keratosis, Fishskin Disease (Ichthyosis), and 
Lips, Chapped. 

ECTHYMA 

Ecthyma (from Greek, meaning pustule) is an 
inflammatory skin affection characterized by sepa- 
73 


SKIN TROUBLES 


rated, flat, deep-seated pustules having broad in¬ 
flamed bases. It is regarded as a secondary skin 
change occurring in various more or less similar skin 
disorders. Poorly nourished and debilitated in¬ 
dividuals get this affection more often than others. 
The pustules are pea-sized to as large as a dime, 
sometimes long and narrow, as when appearing 
after a linear skin lesion or wound, and are yellow¬ 
ish in color. The pustules usually dry, forming 
crusts of a reddish brown color. Pigmentation and 
raw surfaces, later scarring, usually follow the dis¬ 
appearance of the pustules. The legs usually are 
affected, sometimes the trunk and neck. The affec¬ 
tion rapidly responds to proper care—soap and 
water, proper foods, good hygiene. 

Gangrenous Ecthyma (gangrenous dermatitis of 
infancy). This is a gangrene of the skin, in chil¬ 
dren, more or less extensive, and especially follow¬ 
ing some pustular eruption, such as chicken pox, 
though also occurring spontaneously. 

ECZEMA 

This very common inflammatory dermatosis con¬ 
stitutes about 30 per cent of all skin diseases, and 
is found in all ages and conditions of life, but chiefly 
in the young and aged. Common names are tetter, 
salt rheum, and “wildfire.” The chief character¬ 
istics are: primarily, redness of the skin, vesicles, 
papules or pustules; and secondarily, scales and 
crusts. Usually there is a tendency to a moist or 
weeping surface. Itching and burning are very an¬ 
noying. It appears in acute and chronic forms, and 
is due to internal and external causes. Internal 
74 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


causes include gastrointestinal putrefaction and fer¬ 
mentation, indigestion, constipation, nervous affec¬ 
tions, enervation, rheumatism, diabetes, Bright’s 
disease, uric-acid diathesis, scrofula, and disorders 
of the reproductive organs. External causes in¬ 
clude acids, strong soaps, some dyes, iodine, forma¬ 
lin and bichloride of mercury, sun or artificial heat, 
cold, damp cold, friction, pressure, scratching, and 
animal parasites. There are numerous forms. 

Erythematous Eczema. This variety, found 
most often on the face, trunk, arms and genital 
organs, consists of irregular swollen red patches, 
with rough and hardened skin, slight scaling, and 
itching and burning. It frequently recurs. This 
eczema may continue in this form or develop into 
red or scaly eczema. 

Papular Eczema. This form, occurring chiefly 
upon the extremities, consists of patches of pinhead¬ 
sized pointed papules accompanied by extreme itch¬ 
ing. Frequently vesicles are associated with it, or 
vesicles may surmount the papules, break down, and 
leave the skin exposed and raw. The eruption often 
recurs. 

Vesicular Eczema. In this form, essentially an 
acute form, appear poorly outlined red patches 
covered with small vesicles which rupture and per¬ 
mit the escape of a sticky serum, on a raw surface. 
Yellow gummy crusts usually develop, under which 
the weeping may continue. Rupture of the vesicles 
relieves the itch, but soon come smarting and burn¬ 
ing. This eczema appears usually on the extremities 
in adults, and on the face in infants. 

Pustular Eczema. This eczema frequently is 
75 


SKIN TROUBLES 


associated with, or is a later stage of vesicular 
eczema. It appears most frequently on the face and 
scalp of scrofulous and ill-nourished children, and 
in elderly people. For centuries this form on the 
face and scalp of infants has been known as u milk 
crust” or “milk crust eruption,” or “milk scurf.” It 
consists of many papules, quickly changing to ves¬ 
icles and then pustules, which break, with thick 
greenish yellow crusts forming. When the hairy 
regions are affected the resulting odor is extremely 
nauseating. Itching is slight. 

Red Eczema (eczema rubrum). This is a sec¬ 
ondary form, usually of vesicular or pustular ec¬ 
zema, appearing usually on the face in infants, on 
the extremities of adults. Its characteristics are an 
intensely red, raw-appearing, continuously weeping 
and oozing surface, with hardening of the skin 
elements, frequently combined with crusted areas. 
When the weeping is particularly prominent it is 
called eczema madidans. Sometimes it develops 
where there is considerable heat and moisture—the 
armpits, folds of the breasts, and buttocks. This 
is one of the most distressing forms of eczema, as 
it is chronic and has quite constant and intense burn¬ 
ing pain and itching. 

Scaly Eczema (eczema squamosus). This 
eczema often follows some other form, or it may 
appear in point of time between two other forms. 
It is marked by dull redness, hardening and consid¬ 
erable scaling. The scales are small and brush off 
easily. The usual locations are the scalp, face and 
back of the neck; but it appears also to some extent 
upon the extremities and trunk. When near a joint 
76 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


the thickened skin is likely to become fissured or 
cracked, when it is called fissured eczema. 

Fissured Eczema (eczema fissum). Chapping is 
one degree of this eczema. The fingers are favor¬ 
ite sites, though it is frequently found on the palms 
and soles, and on the back of the ears, also at the 
corners of the mouth and at the bowel outlet. Usu¬ 
ally there is considerable pain, and some slight or 
considerable bleeding. It is very persistent, but usu¬ 
ally disappears in summer, probably to reappear 
with the return of cool weather. 

Hard Eczema (eczema sclerosum). This begins 
as an ordinary eczema, becomes chronic and pro¬ 
duces thickening of the skin and underlying tissues. 
It is confined practically entirely to the palms and 
soles, though sometimes affects the ankles and lower 
legs. The skin appears callused, and closing of the 
palm and fingers may be impossible. 

Warty Eczema (eczema verrucosum) is some¬ 
what similar to the above, though the lesions are 
warty or horny. The usual site is the lower legs, 
which may look like legs affected with elphantiasis. 
Excretions gather between the protuberances and 
yield a nauseous odor. Other locations for this 
eczema are those where heat and moisture are pres¬ 
ent and where cleanliness is likely to be incomplete 
—especially the armpits, under hanging breasts, and 
about the genitals. 

Under medical treatment that is strictly local 
(and perhaps suppressive) eczema in one form or 
another often lasts throughout life. Under natural 
treatment, by which the cause is removed, the most 
stubborn cases are cured within a few weeks to a few 
77 


SKIN TROUBLES 


months. The treatment given in Chapter VI should 
be carefully studied and closely adhered to. 

ELEPHANTIASIS 

This hypertrophy also is called elephant leg, Bar- 
badoes leg, pachydermia, etc. It is a chronic 
hypertrophy of the skin and connective tissues due 
to obstruction of the lymphatics. It is confined al¬ 
most wholly to the tropics, though is found to 
some extent in all parts of the world, occurring in 
those who live under unhygienic conditions and con¬ 
sume poor food. The obstruction of the lymph 
vessels is attributed to a parasitic worm (the fliaria 
Bancrofti, or filiaria sanguinis hominis), but it also 
is said that many causes occur without the aid of the 
parasite. The disease is chronic, developing mainly 
in males, and rarely before adult life. 

Elephantiasis usually begins as an inflammation 
resembling erysipelas, with local redness, swelling 
and pain, and some fever. The affected area be¬ 
comes permanently enlarged. Attacks occur every 
few months, each leaving the part a little larger. 
Ultimately the part is very large, the skin much 
thickened, pigmented and fissured, and the lymph 
channels are obstructed. A limb may become so 
large and heavy as to render walking difficult or im¬ 
possible; or the scrotum or some other part may be 
so enlarged as to interfere with or prevent walking. 
The legs, feet, scrotum, penis and clitoris are the 
most frequent seats. 

The disease is chronic, and no treatment avails if 
the growth is far advanced. It may be arrested if 
taken in early stages. I have no knowledge of a 
78 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


case ever having been treated by natural methods; 
but I would expect it to yield to their influences if 
continued for a sufficient length of time. There 
should be rest, especially in acute attacks, and hot 
and cold applications, elevation of the affected mem¬ 
ber, massage, and elastic bandaging, and change of 
climate is to be urged. 

EPITHELIOMA (SKIN CANCER) 

The varieties of epithelial cancer or carcinoma 
are as follows: 

Superficial Epithelioma (rodent ulcer). This 
usually begins as firm, reddish yellow well-defined, 
waxlike papules or warty outgrowths. The surface 
becomes denuded and raw after several months or 
years, upon which areas crusts form. Degeneration 
gradually results in ulcer formation. The ulcers are 
irregular in outline, with clear-cut hard, pearly 
edges, irregular and glazed base, and exuding a 
small amount of faintly yellow viscid fluid. Spread¬ 
ing is slow, healing sometimes taking place, though 
usually the growth becomes deeper, involving even 
the bones. The usual location is the face, where it 
eventually may destroy the nose, or eyes, or a con¬ 
siderable portion of the bones of the head. 

Deep-seated Epithelioma. This form may be 
independent, or develop from the superficial form. 
If independent, it starts as a deep-seated reddish and 
shiny nodule or tubercle. The eventual ulcer is 
deep, irregular in outline, with a ragged base that is 
red and that bleeds easily, and that is surrounded 
with hard, everted, purplish edges. There are sharp 
sticking pains. The lymphatic glands are enlarged, 
79 


SKIN TROUBLES 


and the general health becomes seriously impaired. 
Death may result from exhaustion or hemorrhage. 
This form develops usually after middle life, though 
it may develop in old age or youth. 

Papillary Epithelioma. This tumor begins as a 
rough, warty projection, or it may develop from one 
of the previous forms. The surface becomes ulcer¬ 
ated, and covered with many large blood-filled 
papillae which easily bleed. The projection may re¬ 
main for years before ulceration begins. A very 
foul odor usually exudes from the ulcered surface. 
The lymphatic glands become enlarged, and the 
general health seriously affected. 

The cause of epitheliomata has not been medically 
determined; but my contention always has been that 
practically every cancer is made possible only by a 
high toxicity of all fluids and tissues of the body. 
Doubtless irritation helps much in localizing a 
tumor, such as smoking in epithelioma of the tongue 
or lip, or a jagged tooth in epithelioma of the cheek 
or tongue; but the irritation cannot be the real cause 
of the tumor and its changes. The treatment in 
Chapter VI will prevent, perhaps cure, many epi¬ 
theliomata. 


ERYSIPELAS 

This disease, commonly called St. Anthony’s fire, 
is a peculiar inflammatory disorder of the skin and 
subcutaneous tissues. It is considered to be con¬ 
tagious and specific—due to a specific microorgan¬ 
ism. 

Erysipelas often starts in or about wounds, then 
spreads. Women seem especially liable after child- 
80 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


birth. Frequently nowadays it develops without 
injury or at least without obvious wounds. One at¬ 
tack seems to favor other attacks. Lowered vitality 
predisposes to it. 

The onset usually is announced by a chill, general 
uneasiness, headaches, rapid pulse, slight fever, loss 
of appetite, nausea and vomiting. The fever often 
rises rapidly—to 104 or 105 degrees within a day. 
The urine is scanty, dark, slightly albuminous. The 
eruption is characteristic: a clean-cut, raised, firm, 
hot and tender red spot appears, with burning and 
itching. The eruption spreads, the parts having a 
crimson or violescent hue. The edge is clearly de¬ 
fined, often as a ridge, but if it is spreading projec¬ 
tions may be felt beneath the skin beyond the ridge. 
Blisters or blebs form, burst and become covered 
with yellow scabs. The surrounding parts are ede¬ 
matous, the features being greatly altered. Usu¬ 
ally the eruption lasts from four to five days in one 
locality and may terminate with a rather sudden 
drop of temperature. The skin then peels. 
Through extension the disease often lasts for weeks. 
Relapses are very common. 

Eighty-five per cent of the cases appear on the 
face, beginning on the bridge of the nose and with¬ 
in a few hours spreading over the nose and the two 
cheeks, forming the classical “butterfly” pattern. 
The inflammation may spread to the ears, forehead 
and scalp, also the neck but rarely in front, and 
usually only down to the collar line at the sides and 
behind. When the hairy scalp is involved the pain 
is severe. 

Complications frequently develop under usual 
81 


SKIN TROUBLES 


treatment, among them being pus formation, pneu¬ 
monia, inflammation of the eyes and of the joints, 
and blood poisoning. A transient inflammation of 
the kidneys is quite common. Other complications 
also develop. 

Migrating erysipelas (erysipelas ambulans) is 
a form where the inflammation subsides in one part 
and appears in another, continuing indefinitely. 
With it frequently develop symptoms of typhoid— 
muttering delirium, twitching, and fissured tongue. 

Most cases of erysipelas recover rapidly under 
natural methods of treatment, with little if any 
tendency to recur. Gangrene develops rarely, 
even under very unsatisfactory treatment. Death 
occurs only in extreme or neglected or improperly 
treated cases. 

ERYSIPELOID 

This inflammatory dermatosis resembles erysip¬ 
elas, but lacks the constitutional disturbances and 
symptoms. It affects the hands of those who handle 
meats or those who allow cut or wounded hands to 
come in contact with decomposing animal matter— 
butchers, fish handlers, and medical students and 
others in dissecting rooms. The trouble is merely 
a local infection that quickly is overcome by proper 
treatment. 

ERYTHEMA 

The word erythema taken alone simply means 
redness. Medically it is applied to certain skin dis¬ 
eases in which there are hyperemia, redness which 
disappears on pressure, and passive inflammation. 

82 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


Erythema is but a symptom and must be qualified 
by some other word to be descriptive of a true and 
recognizable skin disease. There are various forms. 

Simple Hyperemic Erythema (erythema sim¬ 
plex). In this form are nonelevated bright red or 
dull red patches of various sizes and shapes in the 
skin. The redness always disappears readily upon 
pressure, there being merely a congestion, not in¬ 
flammation. Itching and a mild burning usually 
are present. There is no hardening of the skin 
structures. 

There are various causes, and these causes are 
added to the term to denote the cause and nature 
of the skin condition. Thus there are: erythema 
caloricum , when due to exposures of either tempera¬ 
ture (further divided into erythema ah igne when 
due to heat, and erythema pernio —chilblains when 
due to cold) ; erythema solare or sunburn; erythema 
traumaticum, resulting from skin injuries; and ery¬ 
thema venenatum , due to poisons from various 
plants. Its most common forms, due to general 
toxemia, antitoxins and various drugs, are the so- 
called “stomach rashes.” 

When their causes are removed these erythemas 
are quickly overcome. The treatment is general 
rather than local. If the cause be friction of oppos¬ 
ing surfaces or of clothing, remove the pressure 
when possible; and boric acid or borated talcum will 
be soothing and permissible. 

Other simple hyperemic erythemas are those oc¬ 
curring as symptoms of other diseases—symptom¬ 
atic erythemas: erythema diphthereticum, occurring 
during diphtheria, also a “serum rash” resulting from 
83 


SKIN TROUBLES 


diphtheria antitoxin; erythema cholericum, which 
may appear during an attack of cholera; and ery¬ 
themas of chronic Bright’s disease, and of uremia. 
These require no special consideration, for they re¬ 
quire no treatment. 

Scarlatiniform Erythema. This is a mildly acute, 
noncontagious eruption resembling scarlet fever but 
running a different course. Medically it is called 
erythema scarlatinoides. Gradually or suddenly it 
appears on the chest, spreading over the body. 
Usually there are uneasiness, discomfort, chill, and 
a slight fever. Burning and itching are frequent. 
The eruption pales and gradually disappears with¬ 
in a few days, with little scaling, except in some 
severe cases when casts of the hand, even hair and 
nails, will be shed. 

This is not infectious or transmissible. It often 
develops during some other diseases. Digestive 
disorders appear to be the chief causes; and exter¬ 
nal application of some drugs (mercury and iodo¬ 
form), and internal medication (of quinine, the 
salicylates, mercury, opium and some others) pro¬ 
duce eruptions that cannot be distinguished from it. 

Correction of the cause clears these eruptions 
quickly. When the cause really is corrected recur¬ 
rences are unlikely, though they are frequent under 
medical treatment. 

Erythema Multiforme. This is an inflammatory 
dermatosis characterized by lesions of different 
kinds. It occurs most frequently in women or girls 
in youth or adolescence, and chiefly in the spring 
or autumn. Digestive disturbances are the chief 
causes; various drugs and serums also cause it. It 
84 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


appears to be closely related to the next form, and 
to angioneurotic edema, and hives. 

Usually associated with the trouble are fever, 
headache, general uneasiness, and rheumatoid pains. 
The eruptions are macules, papules, vesicles or 
blebs, one type usifally predominating in each case. 
The eruptions gradually fade after several days, 
from bright red to purplish or bluish. They ap¬ 
pear in crops. Itching and burning are slight if at 
all. Any location may be involved; but usually the 
backs of the hands and feet. 

Its various forms, named according to the lead¬ 
ing eruption, are: Papular erythema, with separate 
or merged reddish or violet-hued maculopapules or 
papules—the most common form; erythema cir- 
cinatum or erythema annulare, circular patches that 
spread at the borders while clearing in their cen¬ 
ters; erythema iris, rings or crescents of various 
colors; erythema gyratum, erythema circinatum 
with lesions overlapping; vesicular erythema when 
vesicles are the chief lesions; erythema perstans, 
practically permanent ring-shaped patches, recur¬ 
rences being so often as to constitute virtual per¬ 
manence. 

The disease quickly responds to correction of its 
cause. General treatment is all that is required. 
There need be no recurrences if properly treated. 

Erythema Nodosum (erythema or dermatitis 
contusiformis). An acute inflammatory dermatosis, 
characterized by crops of rosy-red or purplish swell¬ 
ings of various sizes. The appearances resemble 
those in the fading of a bruise. It occurs chiefly in 
children and early adult life, and twice as frequently 
85 


SKIN TROUBLES 


in males as females. It appears to be closely re¬ 
lated to the previous form. 

The eruption of bright-red nodes is sudden, 
these becoming dark and then fading, giving the 
appearance of late stages of “black and blue” 
bruises or contusions. The eruptions resemble 
boils at first, but there is no suppuration. They are 
very painful to the touch. Usually the extremities 
are chiefly affected. With the affection are fever, 
headache, rheumatoid joint pains, and general un¬ 
easiness. Cleansing the body internally and build¬ 
ing up the constitution rapidly rids one of this 
disease. 

Indurated Erythema. Erythema induratum is an 
inflammatory skin disorder occurring in scrofulous 
individuals. It is rare, found chiefly in girls and 
young women. It appears most frequently in 
winter, chiefly in those who suffer with cold hands 
and feet. There are circumscribed semi-hard lumps 
in the skin, which end either in absorption or foul 
suppuration. The calves of the legs usually are in¬ 
volved, but also the thighs and arms at times. Pain 
and tenderness, usually absent, may be marked. 
The subjects usually present signs of tuberculosis. 
The disease heals slowly ordinarily, recurrences 
being frequent. However, while healing is slow 
under natural treatment, rebuilding of the constitu¬ 
tion will bring about a cure from which there need 
be no recurrences. 


FARCY 

This trouble is an infection acquired from the 
horse, and is known since earliest history. It usu- 
86 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


ally is called cutaneous glanders. The lesions make 
their appearance after three or four days following 
infection. The usual location is the inner surface 
of the thighs, the lesions first appearing as nodules 
of various sizes, and being beneath the skin. They 
degenerate and produce a very offensive ulcer on 
the skin. A heavy pus (“farcy oil”) fills the nod¬ 
ules before they rupture. The surrounding lym¬ 
phatic vessels resemble cords to the touch, and the 
lymph vessels supplied by these vessels are enlarged 
and hardened. The swellings along the lymphatic 
vessels are called “farcy buds” or “farcy buttons.” 
A lymphatic vessel chronically thickened is called a 
“farcy pipe.” General symptoms resembling 
typhoid usually develop. The disease usually is 
acute and fatal within two weeks, though there is 
a chronic form in which one-half of the cases re¬ 
cover. No satisfactory medical treatment is known. 
Radical blood-purifying measures instituted at the 
onset should lessen the gravity of the prognosis. 

FATTY TUMOR 

A fatty tumor, or lipoma, is a nonmalignant 
tumor composed of fat cells bound together by deli¬ 
cate fibrous or connective tissue. There may be one 
or more tumors. The size may vary from that of 
a pea to a grapefruit or larger. The tumor has a 
doughy feel. If the skin is attached to the tumor 
there is a dimpling of the skin. There are no local 
or general symptoms. The usual locations are the 
back and shoulders, but tumors also appear on the 
neck, buttocks, and inner arm and thigh surfaces. 
Surgery is the only treatment, but if the tumors do 
87 


SKIN TROUBLES 


not interfere with one’s well-being or physical 
activity they should be left undisturbed. 

FEIGNED ERUPTIONS 

This is the common term applied to eruptions 
that are frequently seen in beggars, criminals, hys¬ 
terical people, especially women, and others. The 
medical term is dermatitis artefacta. The erup¬ 
tions are artificially produced, for the purpose of 
eliciting sympathy, unworthy aid or attention. They 
may be erythematous, bullous, ulcerous or gan¬ 
grenous, and may be produced by friction, caustics, 
acids, coals or other hot articles, etc. They differ 
from disease eruptions in their deviation from regu¬ 
lar types of dermatoses, by their distinctness, and in 
being confined to parts easily reached by the hands. 

FEVER BLISTERS 

Herpes febrilis is one form of herpes simplex, 
which is discussed elsewhere in this chapter. It is 
an acute condition, noncontagious, having groups 
of small vesicles appearing on inflamed bases. The 
frequency with which the trouble occurs with fevers, 
on the one hand, and with common colds on the 
other hand, has given rise to the common terms 
“fever blister” and “cold sore.” 

The usual cause is gastric fermentation. Combi¬ 
nations of sugars and starches, of sugars and acids, 
and of starches and acids are the most frequent 
dietetic causes. Gross dietetic errors and other 
habits that may produce diseases, especially fever 
diseases, usually produce fever blisters as a healing- 
crisis effort of the body. Digestive disturbances are 
88 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


especially prone to cause herpes of the lips, espe¬ 
cially in children. Various nervous disorders may 
cause a similar condition. 

The most usual locations are the lips and nostrils. 
Slight tingling, itching and burning are first noticed, 
then an increasing redness, to be followed by a 
cluster of small vesicles. After a day or two the 
watery contents become purulent, after which 
there is a gradual drying up with the development 
of crusts. Redness remains for a few days after the 
crusts fall off. Usually no scars are left. 

Treatment should be preventive. No treatment 
will completely abort the blisters, once they start to 
appear. The old stand-by, camphor liniment, usu¬ 
ally fails absolutely. Clearing the stomach by the 
fast and copious water drinking, and warm enemas, 
usually will shorten the course. Avoid irritation of 
the vesicles. The later diet is to be simple and 
should be continued indefinitely. 

FIBROMA 

A fibroma is a growth of connective tissue and is 
situated in the true skin and subcutaneous tissues. 
These new growths may be soft or firm, and from 
a split pea to an egg in size. They are painless, and 
commonly occur in numbers over the body. They 
often become pendulous, in which case there may be 
ulceration. The skin appears stretched, but may be 
hypertrophied or atrophied. Transient fibroma oc¬ 
casionally develops during pregnancy. Aside from 
a hereditary predisposition the cause is unknown. 
They are best prevented, as no cure is known; but 
one cannot work specifically toward prevention, 
89 


SKIN TROUBLES 


since it is not known what sins of omission or of 
commission are responsible for the condition. 

FISHSKIN DISEASE 

This disease, medically called ichthyosis, also 
xeroderma, is one of the skin hypertrophies, being 
a chronic congenital disease of the skin char¬ 
acterized by a roughness, dryness and scaliness, 
with hypertrophy of the papillae. The skin appears 
more or less like that of scaly fishes. It usually is 
detected in early childhood. Ichthyosis hystrix is the 
term applied when the ichthyosis is extreme, with 
marked hypertrophy of the papillae. The usual lo¬ 
cations or those most affected are the extensor sur¬ 
faces of the extremities. The disease is considered 
incurable, but treatment may be given for relief. 
Frequent hot baths will .be valuable, being similar 
in effect to a hot climate, which relieves the trouble; 
but usually the cold bath should follow the hot bath 
for preserving skin tone. A hot water bath with 
soft soap and a good flesh brush will help get rid of 
the scales, but should be followed by cold alone, lu¬ 
bricant alone, or cold bath and then a lubricant, 
which latter should be rubbed well into the skin. 
Cod-liver oil is an excellent inunction. Pure 
glycerine also is excellent, and may be lightly 
rubbed on after the bath or added to the bath water 
(six to eight ounces to each bath). One or two 
cupfuls of baking soda may be added to the bath 
instead. Start at three baths a week and gradually 
reduce to one a week as the skin condition improves. 
The diet should be natural, and free from salt and 
other spices and condiments. Cod-liver oil should 
90 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


be added to the diet. Nude sun baths followed by 
brief cold baths should be of considerable benefit in 
most cases. (See also Chapter VI.) 

FRECKLES 

The medical term for freckles is lentigo. It is a 
condition of pigmentation in small spots of irregular 
shape affecting blondes more often than brunettes, 
and is usually excited by exposure to the sun’s rays; 
hence appearing mainly upon exposed surfaces. 
The spots usually appear in the summer, and fade 
partially or completely after summer has passed. 
They vary in color from fawn-colored to light yel¬ 
low to brown. They do not constitute a disease, 
being merely what their possessors consider a dis¬ 
figurement. Their exact cause is not known, though 
there is some inherited predisposition. What it is 
that permits one skin to tan and that allows another 
to become spotted with freckles is not known. Pre¬ 
vention is the only fully effective treatment of 
freckles, but such is not satisfactory because it 
necessitates depriving oneself of the sunlight and 
fresh air in sufficient amounts for best health. How¬ 
ever, avoidance of the direct rays of the sun by 
wearing broad-brimmed hats and gloves and carry¬ 
ing sun umbrellas will help. These should be red 
or orange in color. Wearing a red veil will keep 
freckles from the face. Various preparations are 
used to remove freckles by scaling the skin and re¬ 
moving the pigment cells. But the freckles will re¬ 
turn, for the preparations are not curative. Their 
effect upon the skin is injurious, and for this reason 
they should be avoided. The average case of 
91 


SKIN TROUBLES 


freckles is so slight that it well might be given no 
consideration. 

FROSTBITE 

This is a local condition of the skin and deeper 
structures resulting from prolonged exposure to 
cold. The three degrees of frostbite are mere red¬ 
ness or erythema, blistering, and gangrene. Chil¬ 
blain is a first-degree frostbite. This is taken up in 
its proper alphabetical place in this book. The 
fingers, being small and far from the circulatory 
centers, are frostbitten more often than any other 
parts, except the ears and nose. Second-degree 
frostbites show much swelling and lividity, with 
blister formation and ulceration. Even the sur¬ 
rounding tissues usually are considerably inflamed. 

Third-degree frostbites produce pallor of the 
parts, which lose their sense of feeling, though 
sometimes there is agonizing pain in the parts above. 
The affected part becomes cold, swollen and puffy, 
then discolored and shriveled, with the formation 
of the typical line of separation between gangrenous 
and nongangrenous tissue produced by a protective 
inflammatory wall. 

Poor circulation, with poor tone of the blood 
vessels, predisposes to frostbite. Addiction to 
alcohol is likely to make one susceptible to these 
local freezings. 

Cold always has been considered the best remedy 
for frostbite, rubbing the part either with ice water 
or snow in a cold room the temperature of which 
is very gradually raised. Sudden application of 
warmth causes severe inflammation. Wrapping in 
92 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


flannel is advisable after warmth returns to the part, 
but there must be no external application of heat. 
Blisters usually should be evacuated. Elevation of 
the part is relieving when there is marked inflamma¬ 
tion. Exercise of the adjacent joints may be of 
service, conducted with the extremity elevated or 
held high when there is no evidence of death of 
tissues. Second- and third-degree freezing are to 
be cared for by a physician or surgeon when pos¬ 
sible. (See Chilblains.) 

GANGRENE 

Gangrene means mortification or death in mass 
of a visible part of the body. The causes include 
everything which deprives a part of its blood supply 
or that directly kills its cells. Idiopathic gangrene 
arises from internal causes, such as old age, arterial 
disease, diabetes, Raynaud’s disease, and chronic 
ergot poisoning. Traumatic gangrene arises from 
injury sufficient to kill the cells or tissues directly, 
or so to interfere with local blood supply as to have 
the same result (burns, frostbite, blows, caustics, 
and continued pressure). Infective gangrene is sup¬ 
posed to be due to bacterial infection (boils and car¬ 
buncles being minor instances; hospital gangrene 
formerly was the most serious form). 

Diabetic Gangrene. This is an ailment of local¬ 
ized patches of gangrene in advanced sugar di¬ 
abetes, starting with a blister whose later crust is 
thrown off with the dead skin beneath, leaving a 
raw ulcer. It occurs most frequently in the middle 
of the extremities, as on the calf. The senile or 
pre-senile arteriosclerosis renders the tissues liable 
93 


SKIN TROUBLES 


to infection; it is due to this condition rather than 
to the diabetes itself. 

Symmetric Gangrene (Raynaud’s disease). This 
is due to a local arterial anemia producing oxygen 
starvation of the part and resulting in gangrene. It 
occurs at circulation extremities, especially in the 
fingers and toes. The parts become pale and cold 
at first, generally preceded by pains and abnormal 
sensations. Soon the skin becomes livid, then blue, 
swelling takes place, and gangrene develops; the 
gangrenous tissues are sloughed off, leaving a 
wound. From the livid stage recovery may take 
place, but relapses are common in such cases. Sym¬ 
metric parts of the body usually are affected. The 
disease is more common in neurotic individuals, 
especially women before the age of 30 and in chil¬ 
dren of any age. 

The treatment of gangrene should be in the hands 
of a physician. Gangrene often is deforming, prob¬ 
ably demanding surgical mutilation. The best treat¬ 
ment is prevention, by keeping the circulation 
normal. In old age especially, enfeebled circulation 
makes gangrene very liable from very slight injuries. 
If there are signs of gangrene this condition may be 
avoided, or the area involved kept restricted, by 
keeping the affected extremity in a hot-air bath, 
preferably made by arranging a few electric light 
bulbs inside a suitable canopy or other support. 
Wrapping the part in cotton wool after dusting the 
sore with boric acid, and then placing hot water 
bottles at each side of the limb, is a simple means 
of keeping heat to the part and improving circula¬ 
tion. 


94 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


GLANDS OF THE SKIN 

The glands of the skin are subject to various 
alterations from normal functioning which often 
cause considerable annoyance and discomfort. 
They usually are symptomatic—accompanying some 
other disease. The cure in such cases depends upon 
cure of the primary trouble. See Oil Ducts, Affec¬ 
tions of; and Sweat Glands, Affections of. 

GLOSSY SKIN 

This is a rare disease, called atrophoderma 
neuriticum, and is due to nutritional changes in the 
skin resulting from injury to the nerves of the part 
affected, which usually is the fingers. One or more 
fingers (or toes) become smooth and glossy, any 
hair on them is lost, and they appear “blotched as 
if by chilblains.” The normal skin lines are oblit¬ 
erated. There are local burning pain and neuralgia. 
The nails also may undergo nutritional changes. 
Treatment is improvement of nutrition, circulation 
and nerve tone, general and local. 

GOOSE FLESH 

Goose skin (horripilation, cutis anserina) is. 
merely a papillary condition of the skin resulting 
from a contraction of the muscles of the hair fol¬ 
licles producing small elevations in the skin. At the 
same time the hairs in the affected part “stand on 
end.” Cold or emotions, especially fear, may be the 
cause. Neurasthenics and hysterics perhaps are 
more subject than others to goose flesh, but anyone 
will have it at certain times, especially as a result of 
chilling. Usually the reflex is manifested in a 
95 


SKIN TROUBLES 


limited area of the skin, though it may creep over 
one area while leaving another. There is no par¬ 
ticular significance to the condition, and it requires 
no special consideration. 

GRAY HAIR 

The medical term for whitening of the hair is 
canities (can-ish'e-ez). Canities is one of the 
atrophies, commonly considered normal in advanced 
life (canities senilis). Canities prematura is gray¬ 
ness occurring in early adult life or in adolescence. 
The congenital form is found in albinos. Canities 
may occur in spots or patches, or it may involve all 
the hair of the head or body, and the discoloration 
may be partial or complete. It is due to loss of pig¬ 
ment in the hair, and usually takes place slowly, 
though sometimes, as a result of fright, fear or 
shock or of organic nervous disease, it may occur 
within even a few hours or overnight. Internal dis¬ 
turbances that cause baldness may cause grayness 
also. After development it usually remains. Oc¬ 
casionally the hair returns to its original color or to 
some other dark color. No cure is known; but 
supplying the body with every factor necessary for 
health and normal physiological functioning, includ¬ 
ing natural foods, sunlight and fresh air, will help 
postpone development of gray hairs. Hair dyes 
are so inclined to produce disturbing symptoms, per¬ 
haps serious dermatoses, that it never is advisable 
to employ stains to restore the hair color. 

HAIR TROUBLES 

While the hair is one of the appendages of the 
skin, there is too much to be said about its care and 
96 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


preservation and about the removal or prevention 
of the troubles to which it is susceptible to permit a 
discussion of such subjects in a book devoted mainly 
to the skin proper. Dry and oily hair, brittle hair, 
splitting of the hair, and falling hair, as well as 
other disturbances cannot be taken up in detail here. 
Accordingly I refer my readers to my book “Hair 
Culture” for advice on the hair and its care. How¬ 
ever, see Baldness, in this chapter. 

HARD SKIN (SCLERODERMA) 

Hardness or harshness of the skin may be in any 
degree from barely noticeable to fishskin disease, 
already considered, or scleroderma, immediately 
following. There is no medical term for a slight 
degree of roughness and scaliness. A real sclero¬ 
derma is rare, but many people have harsh scaling 
skins, due to deficiency of oil. It is mainly the oil, 
the elastic connective tissue fibers, and the cement¬ 
ing substance that holds these fibers together that 
give the skin its texture, elasticity and softness, 
with the oil being the most important regarding 
softness. The usual causes of skin harshness are 
lack of sufficient and proper skin care. The average 
person is highly toxic, also is guilty of smothering 
the skin, taking too few or too hot and relaxing 
baths, using strong and irritating soaps, and hiding 
the skin perpetually from the sunlight and air. 
These conditions suppress or reduce skin activity, 
or else overstimulate it for a while but eventually 
result in lessened activity, by skin exhaustion or 
lowered tone. See the chapter on general care of 
the skin for correction of this disorder. 

97 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Scleroderma. This is a rigid, pigmented atrophic 
skin condition occurring in patches or fairly gener¬ 
ally over the body, the cause of which is unknown. 
It may develop quite suddenly, or during many 
months or years. It may be preceded or accom¬ 
panied by abnormal sensations in the skin. In time 
the skin becomes tense, hard and fixed to the struc¬ 
tures beneath it so that it cannot be pinched up, 
(hidebound) with a “feel” like wood or leather or 
frozen skin. Yellowish or brownish discolorations 
usually occur. The skin is very smooth and dry, 
sometimes shiny. It may render joints more or less 
immobile. A few cases recover spontaneously after 
a long time, but most cases persist, sometimes mak¬ 
ing the patient helpless. Treatment should be gen¬ 
eral, with massage, friction, ointments and sunlight. 

Sclerema of the Newborn (scleroderma neona¬ 
torum) is a rare disease that occurs shortly after 
birth, sometimes as late as the sixth month. It 
spreads rapidly from the lower limbs over the trunk, 
arms and face, the infant having the appearance of 
being frozen. It occurs chiefly in premature infants, 
but also in feeble full-term babies and those whose 
circulation in the skin capillaries is faulty. Often 
it follows an “infectious diarrhea,” and is observed 
in summer more than in other seasons. Very likely 
the loss of vast amounts of body fluid, through the 
bowels and at first through the skin, is partly or 
largely responsible for its development. Weight 
is rapidly lost, and death may take place within 
eight to ten days, though spontaneous recovery 
takes place in some cases. 

The baby must be kept warm, as in an incubator 
98 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


or by means of hot water bottles, with plenty of 
warmed fresh air and aiding the circulation by light 
friction stroking toward the heart, with warm oils 
used on the hands. The child usually must be fed 
through a flexible tube through the nose or by nour¬ 
ishing enemas for the first few weeks. 

Limited or Circumscribed Scleroderma, called 
generally morphea, also Addison’s keloid, is one of 
the skin atrophies. It is characterized by limited 
rounded, ivory-like patches of various sizes, sur¬ 
rounded by hyperemic or pigmented borders. The 
patches are firm, but not hard. They sometimes 
undergo spontaneous reduction, at other times they 
undergo atrophy, leaving the skin thinned and 
shriveled and bound to the tissues beneath. Sub¬ 
jective symptoms are slight or absent. Joint motion 
may be interfered with when the atrophy is near or 
about joints. Treatment is as for scleroderma. 

White-Spot Disease. This condition is char¬ 
acterized by few or many pea-sized or larger chalk- 
white patches on the chest, neck and back. 
Sometimes the patches are atrophied. It is thought 
that this disease is merely morphea alba or morphea 
atrophica. 

HERPES 

By this term is meant “an eruption of deep- 
seated vesicles” on a red base. There are two dis¬ 
tinct forms: herpes simplex and herpes zoster. 

Herpes Simplex. This form includes herpes 
facialis (see fever blisters, the usual form) and 
herpes progenitalis (of the genitals, also called 
herpes genitalis and herpes preputialis). The ap- 
99 


SKIN TROUBLES 


pearance of the lesions of herpes simplex, wherever 
it may appear, is the same as that of fever blisters. 
Boric acid solution is beneficial in any herpes. 
Thorough cleanliness is necessary, particularly of 
herpes of the genitals. 

Herpes Zoster (shingles, zoster, zona, cingu¬ 
lum). This is an acute inflammatory disease char¬ 
acterized by groups of vesicles, on inflamed bases, 
along the lines of nerve distribution in the skin, and 
associated with neuralgic pains. It constitutes from 
one to one and one-half per cent of all skin diseases. 
The causes are injury, exposure to cold, protracted 
dampness, and neuritis of the superficial nerves— 
plus toxemia and debility. 

The vesicles appear in clusters, upon any part of 
the body though usually over the intercostal nerves 
(between the ribs) of one side only. Stinging pains 
of a neuralgic nature precede or accompany the 
eruption of vesicles. The disease is self-limited, 
but the vesicles dry up after one or two weeks, in¬ 
stead of rupturing. Crusts form, drop off, leaving 
no trace unless scratching had irritated the vesicles. 
A neuralgia of abnormal sensations may linger for 
months, sometimes for years, when the health is 
not restored. 

The important treatment requirements are rest 
in bed; reduction of toxemia by fasts or diet and 
enemas; reducing the irritation of the spinal nerves 
by hot compresses, electric light radiations, electric 
heating pad, massage, naprapathic, osteopathic or 
other suitable spinal treatments; and relieving the 
pain. Taking care of the first three requirements 
usually will take care of the fourth. If not, the 
100 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


affected areas may be gently mopped with full 
strength (95%) alcohol if obtainable; or Carron 
oil, limewater, or ten grains of menthol to the ounce 
of alcohol or water may be used every three hours 
or so with good results. The vesicles should be pro¬ 
tected from rupturing—covered with two or three 
thicknesses of gauze or a thin layer of absorbent 
cotton after dusting them with boric acid or borated 
talcum or equal parts of starch and borated talcum. 
Sometimes collodion (“new skin”) may be painted 
over the vesicles both to prevent their rupture and 
to lessen pain. 


HIVES 

In Great Britain the term hives is applied to 
croup, laryngitis, and chicken pox. But in America 
the term is confined to urticaria, or nettle rash, 
which is a transitory disorder of the skin char¬ 
acterized by short-lasting elevations that itch in¬ 
tensely. 

Many cases are the result of digestive disorders, 
either a mechanical irritation in the digestive tract 
or a toxemia. Many others are caused by drugs— 
coal-tar products, quinine, chloral, copaiba, cubebs, 
turpentine, morphine, and salicylic acid. Certain 
foods often cause hives in susceptible individuals— 
strawberries, mushrooms, oatmeal, nuts, lobsters, 
crabs, mussels, cheese, sausage and other products 
of pork. The bites of bedbugs, mosquitoes and 
caterpillars may produce the disease. Irritations 
of the uterus or associate structures often are causa¬ 
tive factors, as is emotional excitement. 

Usually the eruptions appear suddenly, as firm, 
101 


SKIN TROUBLES 


well-defined, whitish or pinkish elevations called 
wheals, each wheal surrounded by a red area. They 
may appear locally or generally. Itching is intense. 
It is relieved by scratching, which results in new 
wheals. Individual hives usually last but a few 
hours, but each attack of urticaria usually lasts a 
few days, new eruptions appearing as others subside. 
Occasionally a state of chronic hives develops. 

Treatment consists of removing or avoiding the 
cause, if determined. As the cause usually is irrita¬ 
tion within the alimentary tract, it frequently is im¬ 
portant to institute the fast at once, but providing 
plenty of water, especially hot. Very early in acute 
cases vomiting will prove somewhat abortive. Any 
safe means of producing vomiting may be used, but 
the best is drinking from two to four glasses of warm 
water, with or without salt, then tickling the throat. 
Hives is one condition where a saline laxative (Ep¬ 
som salts or Rochelle salts) is perfectly permissible, 
since the bowels should be cleared entirely and since 
eating should not be resumed until after the diges¬ 
tive tract has had time to recover its tone following 
the laxative—a fast of at least 36 to 72 hours being 
advisable. In many cases fairly hot enemas, re¬ 
peated immediately, will make laxatives unneces¬ 
sary, but two or three enemas should be taken the 
first day and perhaps the second day. Limewater 
or hot water with washing soda (sal soda) dabbed 
over the affected part upon retiring usually will 
lessen the itching. Sometimes a warm bath agrees 
better. One-half to one ounce of hydrochloric acid 
to each gallon of water in a bathtub makes a very 
soothing bath. 


102 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


Pigmenting Hives (urticaria pigmentosa). This 
is a rare form of hives found in young children 
usually during the first six months of life. It 
consists of eruptions of wheals like nodules, buff- 
colored, itchy and persistent. When they gradu¬ 
ally disappear they leave behind yellowish or 
brownish pigmented atrophic spots. This is a 
chronic disease, running a course of months or 
years, though very likely internal medication and 
improper feeding and general care have something 
to do with its duration. 

HORNY SKIN 

Cornu Cutaneum (cutaneous horn) is the name 
given to horny formations on the skin due to hyper¬ 
trophy of the epidermis. The face, scalp and penis 
are the usual locations, and the formations usually 
develop in old age. The projections are conical 
and tapering, and are more likely to be curved or 
twisted than straight, generally under one-half inch 
in length though horns a foot long have developed. 
There is pain only upon injury. Surgical removal 
followed by cautery is the usual treatment. Suit¬ 
able treatment is to trim the growth as close to the 
skin as possible. With a matchstick or toothpick, 
apply 40 per cent formaldehyde, being careful not 
to touch normal skin. Apply every three to six 
hours for two or three days then soak the part in 
hot water, when a part of the growth may be re¬ 
moved. Repeating the process a few times ordi¬ 
narily will remove the growth completely and it will 
be unlikely to recur. 


103 


SKIN TROUBLES 


HYPERTROPHIES OF THE SKIN 

An hypertrophy is an abnormal increase in the 
size of a part or an organ due to increase in size of 
the cells. When the increase is due to increase in 
number of cells this is called hyperplasia. Usually 
both appear together. Physiological hypertrophy 
is normal—as in the pregnant uterus, a muscle, or 
the heart enlarged by exercise. Pathological hyper¬ 
trophy is due to disease, either local or elsewhere 
in the body, such as by toxins or congestion. Corns 
and calluses are hypertrophies due to intermittent 
pressure. There are a number of skin hyper¬ 
trophies. These are considered in this chapter 
alphabetically under the popular names by which 
they are known. Those discussed in this volume 
are: Blackheads, Calluses, Corns, Elephantiasis, 
Enlarged Nail (Onychauxis), Fishskin Disease, 
Freckles, Horny Skin, Keratosis, Lfver Spots, 
Milium, Moles, Moth Patches, Warts, and Wens. 

HYSTERICAL DERMATOSES 

Some hysterical people are so hyperirritable so 
far as nerves and muscles of circulation are con¬ 
cerned that very slight skin irritation causes such 
contractions of blood vessels as to cause asphyxia¬ 
tion and destruction of tissue. The skin frequently 
reacts excessively to external irritants. Hysteria 
combined with a nutritional or vasomotor disturb¬ 
ance doubtless causes many skin disorders, though 
of course many supposed-to-be real skin diseases 
have been artificially produced. Hysterical derma¬ 
toses develop quickly, and many of them clear up 
104 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


quickly when the mental or nervous cause is cor¬ 
rected. Among possible hysterical dermatoses are 
acne, hives, dermographia, erythemia, psoriasis, 
and black-and-blue spots. See Feigned Eruptions. 

ITCH 

The term itch has different meanings. Usually 
it is used to designate the indescribable subjective 
symptom that creates the impulse to scratch the 
part (called pruritis). Itch also means Scabies— 
the “seven-year itch,” which is considered in the fol¬ 
lowing chapter. Again, itch is applied loosely to 
any skin condition that has no definite lesion but 
that has as a prominent symptom intense itching or 
pruritis. 

Itching is a symptom, not a disease. There usu¬ 
ally is a more or less definite sensation, but tickling, 
crawling, prickling and tingling all may be called 
itching. An itch without apparent lesions is called 
essential or idiopathic pruritis . Itching in a disease 
usually is paroxysmal and worse at night. The 
skin may be injured from scratching itching areas. 

Itching may be local or general. Local itching is 
named after the locations, as: pruritus ani, itching 
of the anus; pruritus vulva, of the vulva; pruritus 
scroti, of the scrotum. In the aged, as a result of 
degenerative skin changes, it is called pruritus 
senilis. Winter itch occurs in cold weather and is 
called pruritus hiemalis; as it occurs frequently in 
lumbermen it also is called Lumberman’s itch. It is 
due to dryness and brittleness of the skin. Bath 
pruritus or bath itch results (mainly in young adults) 
from contact with either cold or hot water, more 
105 


SKIN TROUBLES 


often hot water, especially when used too often. 
Baker’s itch is less common now since most bakers 
use mechanical dough mixers. Washerwoman’s itch 
is an eczema-like eruption on hands and arms when 
more or less constantly immersed in soapsuds. 
(See Eczematoid Ringworm, next chapter.) 

Generalized itch is met with in Bright’s disease, 
diabetes, affections of the liver, jaundice, digestive 
disorders, nervous affections, gout, uterine and 
ovarian diseases, pregnancy in women in poor 
health, old age, and after the use of certain drugs, 
and is called symptomatic pruritus. Pruritus •vulva 
usually is produced by acid secretions of the vagina, 
but also frequently accompanies diabetes. Pruritus 
ani may be caused by seat worms (pinworms), gout, 
constipation, piles, fissures, and by constitutional 
disorders. In gout is frequently observed pruritus 
of the hands and feet, with profuse sweating of 
these parts. 

Nervous Itch. This itch is more likely to come 
on during quiet—as in theaters, churches, parlors, 
offices, at sewing, etc. It often is impossible for 
some people to remain long at any pleasure or duty 
that necessitates quiet. Any part of the body may 
be affected, scalp, face, extremities, back, chest; 
sometimes it is general. Among the causes are loss 
of sleep, mental, emotional or physical stress, sexual 
excesses; lack of sufficient exercise; masturbation 
especially in youths and men, for this extracts a 
very essential combination of nerve-feeding ele¬ 
ments, causes some degree of anemia, and disturbs 
other glands of internal secretion. A diet too 
“heavy” is a frequent cause; constipation is another. 

106 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


Usually there is a pronounced toxemia, especially 
intestinal. The prevention and cure of “nervous 
itch” lies in avoiding or removing the causes men¬ 
tioned—elimination, more rest in every way, more 
normal physical exercise, proper tonic baths, etc. 

Summer Itch (pruritus aestivalis) is an itch oc¬ 
curring in hot weather. Most often it is associated 
with prickly heat, then being called prurigo aestivalis. 

Barber’s Itch—See Sycosis. 

IMPETIGO 

See Scrum Pox. 


JAUNDICE 
See Pigmentations. 


KELOID 

A keloid (cheloid, kelis, Alibert’s keloid) is a 
new growth of connective tissue of the corium, 
usually resulting from injury, sometimes occur¬ 
ring spontaneously. The colored race is particu¬ 
larly susceptible. Certain families seem to be espe¬ 
cially predisposed. It begins as a pea-sized nodule, 
slowly enlarging and extending clawlike processes 
(its resemblance to a crab gave it the name keloid). 
It may reach the size of a hand. It is firm and 
elastic, sharply defined, slightly elevated, firmly im¬ 
planted in the skin and shining and pinkish or red¬ 
dish in tone. Favorable locations are the back and 
chest. The growth usually returns after removal, 
perhaps developing larger and faster than before. 
107 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Spontaneous keloid, developing upon a normal 
skin, is of obscure origin but probably is due to 
irritation plus toxemia. False keloid (cicatricial or 
scar keloid) arises at the site of cuts, burns, wounds, 
bites, smallpox and acne lesions, usually arising 
directly from the scars. Spontaneous shrinkage and 
return of skin to normal often occurs in any keloid 
case, but frequently it lasts throughout life, return¬ 
ing when removed surgically. Ultra-violet ray 
treatment, with constitutional measures, will pre¬ 
vent the growth or its increase, and frequently will 
reduce the growth. 

KERATOSIS 

Keratosis means any disease of the epidermal 
layer of the skin, but specifically the term is applied 
to diseases having localized overgrowths of the 
horny layer. 

Follicular Keratosis. This rare disease is a 
hypertrophic affection of the oil glands at the hair 
roots. Small dark papules become embedded in 
the follicles, and frequently are crowned with horny 
projections which, upon removal, leave pits. They 
usually appear on the scalp, face, chest, loins and 
inguinal region, chiefly of men. The disease is 
chronic and progressive. The general health is not 
disturbed, though subjective symptoms may be dis¬ 
turbing. Improvement has been observed by use of 
x-rays, cautery or electricity. We should expect it 
to make favorable progress under properly directed 
natural treatment. 

Contagious Follicular Keratosis. This is con¬ 
sidered to be the contagious form of the above. It 
108 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


is generally a disease of childhood, but also appears 
in adults. Several members of a family may be 
affected simultaneously. It begins as small black 
points that spread from the elbows and knees prac¬ 
tically over the entire body. Papules develop 
around the black points and often become in¬ 
flamed. It should respond quickly to natural treat¬ 
ment. 

Keratosis of the Hair Follicles (keratosis pilaris-, 
lichen pilaris). This is the development of small 
papules due to hypertrophy of the outer skin at the 
mouth of hair follicles, usually resulting from in¬ 
frequent or inadequate bathing. Dirty-gray pin¬ 
head elevations, each pierced by a hair, develop, 
usually upon the extensor surfaces of the arms and 
legs. They have the appearance of goose flesh, in 
mild cases. The skin feels like a nutmeg grater to 
the touch. Itching is slight if at all. The disease 
develops in some degree in most people. It does 
not affect the general health. Adequate bathing 
with a good grade of soap, and the use of a good 
flesh brush and friction upon drying, usually are all 
the “treatment” required. 

LEPROSY 

This is a chronic disease having tubercular le¬ 
sions, ulcerations, skin atrophy, abnormal skin sen¬ 
sations, and variations in pigmentation. It is 
considered contagious, transmission being by direct 
contact only. There may be the various fever 
symptoms, with pains in the bones, long before the 
actual disease makes its appearance. There are two 
forms, both of which may exist at the same time. 

109 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Tubercular Leprosy. This begins as yellow, red 
or brown patches upon the face, extremities or gen¬ 
itals, these becoming hyperesthetic and developing 
tubercles. The nodules cause great disfigurement. 
They may break down and leave ulcers. The vari¬ 
ous features may become inflamed and distorted, 
the face often being lionlike. Most lepers die of 
some other affection before the leprosy has run its 
complete course. 

Anesthetic Leprosy. Frequently this form is pre¬ 
ceded by itching, neuralgic pains and excessive sensi¬ 
bility. Then occur irregular blebs or blisters, which 
rupture; or bluish red or bluish spots develop. 
Gradually loss of sensation in these spots takes 
place, which anesthesia may spread over normal 
areas. The skin atrophies, bones are destroyed 
(without pain), and paralysis often follows. The 
disease lasts for many years. 

Leprosy is said to be due to the bacillus lepra, 
but it undoubtedly results from toxemia. Many 
cases recover spontaneously. It may leave the body 
entirely after many years, but the body is horribly 
mutilated. Among the diseases from which the 
patient may die are pneumonia, tuberculosis, exhaus¬ 
tive diarrhea, cerebral degeneration, and kidney 
disease. 

The treatment consists of the most complete 
cleanliness the patient’s strength will permit. From 
one to three baths daily, at from 113 to 122 de¬ 
grees, for a month or longer are excellent. Warm 
sea bathing is helpful, then open-sea bathing after 
the scales have been removed. “Forced feeding” 
is inadvisable, though the diet should be nutritious 
110 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


and highly eliminative, with occasional fasts. In¬ 
ternal cleanliness is essential, as these cases are filthy 
inside. Tonics are supposed to be desirable, but 
none are necessary in the vital economy in health 
and they cannot be specific or essential in the cure of 
this disease. (See also Chapter VI.) 

LEUCODERMA 

See White Skin. 

LIPS, CHAPPED AND CRACKED 

Cracking of the lips is frequently a source of con¬ 
siderable annoyance, not to say pain and embarrass¬ 
ment to many people. In many cases it lasts 
throughout all the cool months of the year. The 
crack may be in the middle, on one side, or at the 
corner of the lips, and may be quite deep. There 
may be no scar, but sometimes a well-marked scar 
develops. Usually the entire skin is dry. Some¬ 
times diarrhea helps to cause it, in other cases con¬ 
stipation. Fats often are insufficiently supplied, 
digested or assimilated. The entire diet may be in¬ 
adequate, or very unbalanced. Exposures to cold, 
especially cold winds, is a frequent cause, especially 
when alternated with exposure to superheated and 
dry room atmosphere. 

To correct the trouble, see that the diet is well 
balanced; mastication thorough; bowel action nor¬ 
mal; avoid very hot or cold baths; use warm or 
cool water for facial baths, avoiding friction; and 
use nightly, and several times during the day if con¬ 
venient, an application of cold cream, olive oil, sweet 
111 


SKIN TROUBLES 


cream, unsalted butter, or camphorated ice. Try to 
avoid stretching the lip in order that healing may 
take place without interference. In some cases 
strips of court plaster may aid in holding the lip 
immobile for healing. 


LICHEN 

Lichen is a term (meaning tetter-like eruption) 
applied to any papular skin eruption, but now usu¬ 
ally denoting the form known as lichen planus. 

Lichen Planus. This is an inflammatory derma¬ 
tosis, not very common, characterized by develop¬ 
ment on the extremities of small, flat, angular, 
shining, bluish red papules, scattered or bunched, 
later becoming covered with fine white scales. 
There is slight to moderate itching, but no health 
impairment. New lesions appear as old lesions 
vanish. It develops usually in middle-aged males 
who are undernourished, or neurasthenic, also from 
digestive disturbances and nervous shock. Treat¬ 
ment is general, as in Chapter VI. 

Scrofulous Lichen (lichen scrofulosus). This 
is a chronic dermatosis appearing in some scrofulous 
individuals, especially children, and characterized 
by small conical scaly papules, usually forming in 
clusters. The color fades from pale-red or salmon- 
colored to normal skin color, with slight pigmenta¬ 
tion remaining. They are usually on the trunk, 
sometimes spreading to the neck, thighs and arms. 
There are no subjective symptoms. Aside from 
general care for improving the health, there should 
be sun baths, and the skin should be oiled with olive 
112 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


oil or sweet oil, and cod-liver oil should be admin¬ 
istered internally. 


LIVER SPOTS 

Liver spots or moth patches, called medically 
chloasma, are a source of much concern and worry 
to many people, especially women. These spots are 
yellowish, brownish or blackish pigmented patches 
of various sizes and shapes. They occur chiefly 
upon the face. Formerly all “moth patches” or 
pigmentations in patches were ascribed to liver dis¬ 
orders, hence the term “liver spots.” They have 
nothing to do with such disorders. Pigmentation 
resulting from liver diseases usually is somewhat 
general, not in sharply outlined spots. 

Chloasma of External Origin (idiopathic chlo¬ 
asma) includes pigmentations from local irrita¬ 
tions, such as blisters, friction, mustard plasters, the 
sun’s rays, pressure, etc. 

Chloasma of Internal Origin (symptomatic 
chloasma) is the more typical form and the one that 
concerns the most people. It is due to Addison’s 
disease (of the suprarenal glands), tuberculosis, 
cancer, malaria, and pregnancy, the last condition 
producing chloasma uterinum —yellowish or brown¬ 
ish patches usually about the eyelids and forehead; 
they also are associated with diseases of the ovaries 
and uterus. Argyria is a permanent bluish gray or 
slate-colored discoloration due to prolonged use of 
silver. Arsenic produces a diffuse brownish dis¬ 
coloration. Apart from the discoloration the skin 
in these various conditions is normal. 

The possibility of cure depends upon ability to 
113 


SKIN TROUBLES 


remove the cause. Except for hydrogen peroxide 
as a local bleach, which is of service sometimes, local 
applications are valueless. 

LUPUS 

See Tuberculosis of the Skin. 

MILIUM 

Milium (grutum) is a functional disorder of the 
oil glands, having small, round, yellowish or pearl- 
white, noninflamed elevations in the skin. It is due 
to the retention and hardening of the oil secretion 
in the oil gland ducts, the outlets of which have be¬ 
come closed. It often develops under scars. The 
elevations are about the size of millet seed, hence 
the name. They feel gritty to touch, hence the 
name grutum (grit). 

The elevations appear chiefly on the face. Their 
contents cannot be squeezed out until an opening is 
made, which is different from a blackhead, though 
blackheads and acne are frequently associated with 
them. In infants cleanliness is all that is required, 
for a cure and for prevention. In adults cleanli¬ 
ness will usually prevent them, but the lesions may 
require puncturing and squeezing out of the con¬ 
tents. 

MOLE (NEVUS PIGMENTOSA) 

A mole is a pigmented-raised spot in the skin, 
often covered with hair. The medical term for it is 
nevus (meaning birthmark), though this term 
means more than moles. Moles usually are con- 
114 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 

genital. They vary from the size of a pinhead to 
as large as a hand, even larger. They are usually 
found on the face, neck and trunk. There may be 
one or many. The color ranges from yellow to 
black. Nevus spilus is a smooth mole; nevus pilo- 
sus, is a mole covered with hair; nevus verrucosus, 
when wartlike; nevus lipomatosus, when composed 
largely of fat and connective tissue; nevus maternus, 
a congenital birthmark. 

These small growths (moles) and discolorations 
(birthmarks) are not removable by any natural 
means except in early infancy (see Chapter VI). 
They rarely cause trouble. Unless prominent or in 
some location where they will be subject to frequent 
injury they should be left undisturbed. They can 
be removed by electric needle or knife if desired. 

MOTH PATCHES 

See Liver Spots. 

MOTTLED SKIN 

Dapple-skin or marbleization (cutis marmorata, 
livido reticularis) is a condition of spotting with 
patches of varying size, shape and shade made pos¬ 
sible by the network arrangement of the small blood 
vessels in the corium, and due to contraction of these 
vessels. In many people it is normal, especially 
when chilled. It sometimes appears only after pro¬ 
longed exposure to cold. In early stages of Ray¬ 
naud’s disease it is quite common, and often in very 
pronounced form. It accompanies some nervous 
disorders. Usually, however, it is transient, due 
115 


SKIN TROUBLES 


solely to chilling. It is a constant condition during 
the first few months in many infants. Any part or 
all parts of the body may be mottled. The colors 
vary from light and purplish blue to deep pink, there 
being a difference of several shades of color be¬ 
tween the meshwork of vessels and the skin in the 
meshes. The condition needs no direct attention, 
but if due to some abnormal general condition this 
should be corrected. When due to sluggish circula¬ 
tion cool or cold tonic baths and not too vigorous 
friction, along with a suitable diet and habits in 
general, may overcome the condition. 

THE NAILS 

In our brief study of the anatomy of the skin we 
found that the nails are appendages of—outgrowths 
from—the skin. Though quite hard, they are sub¬ 
ject to affections of the nail-bed and matrix to which 
they are closely adherent, and they respond to the 
nature of nutrition derived from these parts. There 
are not many affections of the nails that require 
special attention. 

Atrophy of the Nails (atrophia unguis). In the 
congenital form the nail may be absent, defective 
or distorted from birth. The acquired form is 
more common. The nails become thin, narrowed, 
furrowed, crumbly and distorted, and lose their 
transparency. This atrophy develops in syphilis, 
injuries to the nerves or spinal cord, prolonged 
fever diseases, psoriasis, eczema, and ringworm. 
Hereditary shedding of the nails at more or less 
definite intervals is called onychoptosis. The shed 
nails may be normal or deformed. 

116 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


Contusion of the Nail is a very painful affection 
for several minutes or even a few hours, owing to 
the limited space for the escaping blood. If the 
matrix is considerably damaged the nail most likely 
will be shed; otherwise only the bruised portion is 
apt to be lost; and if the bruise and resulting “blood 
blister’’ are small there may be no loss, the dis¬ 
coloration remaining until the nail grows out be¬ 
yond this point. A blood blister cannot be prevented 
from forming after a causative injury, nor 
can the blood be removed without mutilation of the 
nail. Piercing the nail will relieve pain and let the 
collected blood escape, but the hole will remain 
until the nail grows out again. 

Hypertrophy of the Nails (onychauxis, hyper¬ 
onychia). This is an enlargement of the nail, either 
in length, breadth or thickness, or any combination 
of these. The nail of the great toe is especially 
liable to hypertrophy, also marked darkening. The 
condition may be primary, or secondary as in fish- 
skin disease. Through overgrowth on the sides it 
may cause inflammation in these surrounding tissues, 
called paronychia (see Whitlow, below). The 
matrix may become inflamed (onychia), from the 
hypertrophy or from other cause. 

White-spotted Nails (leuconychia, or leucopa- 
thia unguium). White areas on the nails are very 
familiar, and sometimes occasion mental distress. 
The spots rarely are general. They seem to be due 
in some manner to slight injury, and often appear 
shortly after manicuring, where instruments slightly 
injure the nail-bed, and, especially, the matrix. It 
is supposed that the normal process of change to a 
117 


SKIN TROUBLES 


horny substance has been interfered with. Illness 
and defective nutrition seem to have some causative 
effect, also. The best “treatment” is using care to 
avoid causative injuries, as the spots cannot be re¬ 
moved once they have formed. 

Whitlow or Felon (panaris). These terms apply 
to inflammation of the bone or bone covering, but 
as correctly apply to inflammation of the structures 
about the nail (paronychia), which usually is as¬ 
sociated with inflammation of the nail matrix 
(onychia). Syphilis is supposed to be the cause 
of onychia, but injury is a frequent cause. It is com¬ 
mon in washwomen and scrubwomen. It occurs also 
in diabetes (a form of diabetic gangrene), and from 
toxic agents (arsenic, for instance), and nutritional 
disturbance (as in such neuroses as Raynaud’s dis¬ 
ease, leprosy, glossy skin, and others). In whitlow 
are acute inflammation, redness, swelling, and ago¬ 
nizing throbbing pain„ Pus is formed and burrows 
around and under the nail. The nail may become 
thickened and discolored, and in time sheds. The 
new nail may be normal, but often it is deformed. 

Chronic Onychia and Paronychia is the result of 
a low-grade inflammation, developing often in those 
who are obliged to keep the hands more or less con¬ 
stantly in water. One or several fingers may be 
involved. There are only slight redness and swell- 
ing, little pain, and no pus. Unless successfully 
treated the nails become very deformed. 

Splitting of the Nails (onychorrhexis) usually is 
due to defective general and local nutrition, or to 
too constant use of the hands in water. 

Favus, ringworm, warts, eczema, and psoriasis 
118 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


of the nails are not uncommon, but they do not re¬ 
quire special treatment on account of location. 

Hangnail (agnail is the proper term) is a flap of 
flesh at the base or side of a nail, due merely to 
failure to keep the nail fold pushed back from the 
nail body. This thinned and widened strip of flesh, 
which adheres to and is carried forward by the nail, 
becomes separated from the nail, splits in strips or 
becomes frayed. These strips are the “hangnails.” 
Cutting the nail folds with scissors has the same 
effect, because the normal selvage of the nail fold 
has been removed and the edge, then without its 
normal “binding,” easily becomes frayed. The 
proper treatment is one of prevention—regularly 
pushing the flesh back from the nail when it is soft¬ 
ened from bathing, by wash cloth, nail brush, towel, 
fingers, or orange-wood stick. The hangnail may be 
lightly trimmed, then care taken to prevent further 
adherence of the flesh to the nail; but the part must 
be kept clean, and care taken to avoid cutting into 
the blood-filled flesh. 

In treating nail disorders, the conditions to which 
they are secondary must receive chief consideration, 
though local treatment will help, also proper nail 
care will prevent many disorders. In onychia and 
paronychia, local baths as hot as can be borne usually 
will quickly arrest the process or hasten a cure. Any 
method of keeping heat to the part will be satis¬ 
factory. Pus may need to be evacuated, after which 
peroxide of hydrogen applied to the cavity will be 
advisable. Packing cotton between the nail and 
nail walls will give much relief, but the embedded 
portion of the nail may first require cutting away. 

119 


SKIN TROUBLES 


In atrophy of the nail, painting with flexible collo¬ 
dion will protect it and give some relief. Hypertro¬ 
phied nails may need to be filed or sawed down. 
Whenever possible, however, the underlying cause 
or causes must be treated before any permanent cor¬ 
rection will be secured. 

NEUROSES OF THE SKIN 

Skin neuroses is a term applied to affections of 
the nerves of the skin, without any apparent or dis¬ 
coverable change in their structure. These affec¬ 
tions almost always are secondary to some other 
disease (symptomatic), to be cured by curing the 
primary disease. 

Anesthesia is a total loss of sensation and feeling 
in the skin, usually limited in area, and due to func¬ 
tional and organic diseases of the nervous system. 
Diminished sensation is called hypesthesia. 

Hemianesthesia is loss of feeling in the skin on 
one side of the body, due to brain and cord lesions 
and hysteria. Paranesthesia is an anesthesia of cor¬ 
responding parts on each side, resulting from hys¬ 
teria, organic cord disease, or neuritis. Analgesia 
is loss of sensibility to pain, yet pain may appear 
spontaneously. Thermoanesthesia is a loss of tem¬ 
perature sense, or loss of inability to distinguish be¬ 
tween heat and cold. 

Hyperesthesia is increased sensibility in the skin, 
occurring in various functional and organic diseases 
of the nervous system. Paresthesia is applied to 
various abnormal and usually disagreeable subjec¬ 
tive sensations (burning, creeping, itching, numb¬ 
ness, prickling, tingling, etc.). It occurs in diseases 
120 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


or injuries of the nervous system and in skin disease 
and toxemia. In locomotor ataxia the girdle sensa¬ 
tion (zonesthesia), or feeling as if a band or cord 
were constricting the abdomen, often is felt. In this 
disease also occur lightning pains —sharp shooting 
pains usually in the extremities. 

Dermatalgia or neuralgia of the skin is paroxysms 
of pain, usually severe, traveling along nerve routes. 
It occurs mainly in women, and is usually confined 
to small areas, particularly the hairy regions. It is 
due to various causes, such as fatigue, exposure, 
sexual weakness, disease or excesses, anemia, and 
toxemia. Causalgia is the severe burning pain often 
present in glossy skin. 

Pruritus is a functional affection, yet it usually is 
not classed with the neuroses. It is considered in 
its alphabetical location in this chapter. 

OIL DUCTS, AFFECTIONS OF 

Seborrhea is the term applied to an increase, de¬ 
crease, or alteration in the secretion of the oil 
ducts of the skin. There are two forms: 

Seborrhea Oleosa, or excessive oiliness of the 
skin, which usually occurs upon the face, particularly 
the forehead, cheeks and nose. The duct mouths 
become enlarged, often the superficial blood vessels 
also. The face appears dirty and begrimed, from 
settling dust. 

Seborrhea Sicca, or dandruff, is marked by a de¬ 
crease or absence of the oily secretion. The skin is 
dry, with yellowish or grayish scales. The scalp 
is the most frequent seat, though the beard and eye¬ 
brows and nonhairy surfaces may be affected. 

121 


SKIN TROUBLES 


When on the scalp it usually is associated with fall¬ 
ing of the hair, though many people have consider¬ 
able dandruff and yet have heavy hair. Some 
authorities, in fact, claim that dandruff insures bet¬ 
ter hair, but I certainly cannot hold this view. 

Asteatosis is a symptomatic affection of the oil 
glands. There is diminution or total absence of the 
oil, and a dry, harsh, and frequently scaling skin. 
The condition frequently accompanies psoriasis, 
scleroderma, prurigo, ichthyosis, and leprosy. 

PELLAGRA 

Because of the skin symptoms pellagra is classed 
with the skin diseases, though it rightly does not 
belong with them. It is an endemic chronic con¬ 
stitutional disease of the systems of nerves, diges¬ 
tion and skin, of toxic origin, having digestive 
disorders, rough erythematous skin, and symptoms 
of the nervous system. The disease is common in 
Italy, Spain and the Far East, and at present in the 
Southern States. It may be considered a disease of 
summer, the depression of the hot months probably 
being a contributing cause. A denatured diet is con¬ 
sidered to be the chief cause, coupled with the de¬ 
pression of a hot climate. Other causative 
influences are malnutrition, overwork, old age, 
alcoholism, and frequent reproduction in women or 
reproduction in the vitally deficient. 

Digestive symptoms usually appear first. The 
eruption is a variously shaded erythema chiefly on 
the exposed parts, appearing symmetrically. The 
skin is rough and swollen, with burning, itching and 
pain, and scaling reveals a pus condition below the 
122 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


skin surface. The skin symptoms pass through 
stages of congestion, inflammation, thickening and 
pigmentation, and atrophic thinning. Nervous 
symptoms include paralysis, spinal tenderness, and 
mental depression, these often resulting in melan¬ 
cholia, hallucinations, and stupor, even mania. 

Recovery is rare in well-developed cases. Severe 
cases never would develop if properly cared for 
from the start. Treatment consists of an avoid¬ 
ance of an excess of starchy and sugar foods, and a 
liberal amount of fresh vegetables, fruits and milk, 
butter, cheese, whole grain cereals, entire baked 
potatoes, eggs, rest and sunshine (perhaps some 
meat). 


PEMPHIGUS 

This is a noncontagious inflammatory skin affec¬ 
tion characterized by successive crops of variously 
sized bullae, occurring in acute or chronic form. 
Predisposing causes are enervation and debility 
from overwork and nervous strain. There are 
several varieties. 

Acute Pemphigus occurs in those who handle 
dead animals or their products, usually developing 
after local injury. Blebs appear, accompanied 
by chills, high fever and delirium. Under usual 
medical treatment about three-fourths of the cases 
are fatal. 

Pemphigus Foliaceous is a rare and serious form, 
having crops of flabby blebs which soon rupture and 
form crusts. These are thrown off, leaving a red¬ 
dened weeping inner skin. New crops develop 
rapidly, and the whole body surface, also the mucous 
123 


SKIN TROUBLES 


membranes, may be involved at the same time. The 
disease may last for years, death resulting from 
exhaustion. 

Pemphigus Vegitans. This is a rare form in 
America. Wartlike growths develop upon the loca¬ 
tion of ruptured bullae, unite and form masses re¬ 
sembling fungus. Favorite locations are the neck, 
armpits, mouth, flexures of arms and legs, and the 
genital and anal regions. There are severe con¬ 
stitutional symptoms. It usually ends fatally after 
several months or years. 

Pemphigus Vulgaris. This is the usual type, a 
chronic form, having successive crops of tense blebs 
with clear fluid that quickly becomes cloudy and 
purulent. The surrounding skin is normal. The 
blebs usually do not rupture, their contents being 
absorbed within five or six days. A small pellicle 
remains, which falls off and leaves a pigmented 
spot. Itching and burning appear in severe cases. 
No part of the body is exempt. The disease may 
last for years, though proper natural treatment will 
shorten the duration. 

There are other forms of pemphigus occasionally 
met with: Congenital pemphigus (pemphigus con- 
genitalis), occurring near the end of the first year 
of life, possibly at birth, and usually developing as 
a result of rubbing, scratching or pressure; con - 
tagious pemphigus (pemphigus contagiosus), a local 
bullous form, apparently transmitted by contact; 
pemphigus of pregnancy (pemphigus gravidarum), 
a bullous form occurring in pregnancy or after 
childbirth; pemphigus of newborn (pemphigus neo¬ 
natorum), a bullous form occasionally seen at or im- 
124 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


mediately after birth; also a pemphigus of hysteria, 
one of leprosy, and one of syphilis. 

Mild cases of pemphigus recover rapidly under 
natural treatment. Severe cases require time, and 
of course some will have reached a stage where no 
possible treatment can save life. The appearance 
of flabby or hemorrhagic (blood-filled) blebs, fre¬ 
quent outbreaks, constitutional depression, and the 
involvement of extensive areas of the skin are un¬ 
favorable indications. Radical treatment is neces¬ 
sary in this disease—a diet eliminative at first, and 
later truly nourishing. General elimination and rest 
of body and mind are of vital importance. The 
blebs should be evacuated, after which a soothing 
ointment or dusting powder is permissible and ad¬ 
visable. Bran or starch baths are of value. For 
serious cases warm baths are recommended, both 
day and night, and for months if necessary. 

PIGMENTATIONS 

In many normal and abnormal conditions vary¬ 
ing degrees and shades of pigmentation of the skin 
are observed. Many of the skin affections already 
mentioned or still to be considered are associated 
with pigmentation. The few of the conditions 
grouped here are marked more by the deposits in 
the skin than by other local or general manifesta¬ 
tions. 

Argyria. The chief indications of chronic silver 
poisoning is the bluish gray or slate-gray discolora¬ 
tion of the skin and deep tissues, most pronounced 
in the exposed parts, produced by a deposit of 
metallic silver. The condition is less common than 
125 


SKIN TROUBLES 


formerly when silver was administered in nervous 
diseases. The gums first show the discoloration, 
and are inflamed and swollen. Local discoloration 
(argyrosis) may be due to working with silver, pro¬ 
ducing a blackening of the hands, or to long-con¬ 
tinued local applications of some silver salt, as in 
the eye or throat. The discoloration is permanent. 

Jaundice (icterus). This is a yellowish pigmen¬ 
tation of the skin, general tissues and excretions 
with bile pigments. Obstructive jaundice is due to 
disease of or pressure upon the bile passages. Tox¬ 
emic jaundice is due to some form of disease, toxic 
development, drugs or snake venom. In any case 
the eyes usually first show the discoloration, which 
may or may not involve the skin and mucous mem¬ 
branes. General symptoms of depression are pres¬ 
ent, and itching may be pronounced. Hives may 
develop. Occasionally the skin becomes black and 
blue from deposits of blood. The discoloration is 
less marked in toxemic jaundice than in obstructive 
jaundice, but the general symptoms are more severe. 

Catarrhal Jaundice is common in young adults, 
following catarrh of the digestive tract, or during 
infectious fevers and organic liver disease. There 
are loss of appetite, foul breath, pain in the stomach 
region, vomiting, sometimes diarrhea. 

Jaundice of the Newborn may be normal, or in¬ 
dicative of no definite abnormal condition. The 
jaundice is slight, passing off spontaneously within 
a few days. There also is a fatal jaundice of the 
newborn, with pronounced discoloration, due to de¬ 
velopmental defects of the bile duct or infection 
through the navel, sometimes to syphilis of the liver. 

126 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


Usually a diet and general treatment that allow 
the bowel to become cleared, the liver to become 
less congested, and the bile ducts to become open 
will take care of jaundice. No treatment can be 
applied for the skin discoloration alone. 

Pigmentation of Pregnancy. Generally in preg¬ 
nancy a dark line extends from the pubic region to 
the navel, sometimes to the tip of the breastbone. 
The areolae about the nipples becomes darker, usu¬ 
ally larger. Especially in brunettes the face often 
becomes generally darkened or the seat of dark 
patches, especially moth patches or “liver spots.” 
The face usually clears up during lactation. Some 
spots become permanent. No treatment is re¬ 
quired. 

Xeroderma Pigmentosum (atrophoderma pig¬ 
mentosum). This is a skin atrophy, usually appear¬ 
ing in the first or second year after birth and slowly 
progressing to death. At first are freckle-like spots 
on the face and hands, these later atrophying and 
becoming depressed. This is followed by dilation 
of minute skin blood vessels and diffuse atrophy. 
After a few years wartlike growths develop on the 
pigmented areas and develop into tumors. The 
cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to 
some nerve impairment, probably some congenital 
predisposition. In these cases the skin is very sensi¬ 
tive to the actinic sun rays, which affect the skin 
very much as do x-ray burns. 

PQMPHOLYX 

This affection, called also dysidrosis, is a rare 
acute inflammatory skin disorder occurring usually 
127 


SKIN TROUBLES 


in those who perspire excessively, and is evidenced 
by the formation of many deep-seated vesicles sym¬ 
metrically distributed between the fingers and on 
the palms. Occasionally the feet are affected also. 
The vesicles gradually increase in size until they 
become blebs, which do not rupture, their contents 
being gradually absorbed, after which there is ex¬ 
tensive scaling, which reveals a red skin beneath. 
There usually develops a feeling of heat, itching, 
tingling or burning, pain and sensitiveness, and there 
may be some nervous depression. The surrounding 
skin becomes sodden, painful and scaly. Repeated 
attacks, differing in intensity, are frequent. The 
trouble heals slowly within a few weeks. By proper 
care its course is shortened still more. Bland oint¬ 
ments may be used. 

PRICKLY HEAT 

This well-known condition is known by a variety 
of names: miliaria rubra, eczema solare, heat rash, 
lichen tropicus, and strophulus. It is a vesicular 
eruptive affection of the skin due to copious sweat¬ 
ing, with small papules and vesicles appearing at 
the openings of the ducts of sweat glands, attended 
by itching and burning. The vesicles form about the 
pores and usually are separated but closely grouped, 
small scales forming when these dry. There is a 
tingling or prickling, later itching. Covered parts 
usually are affected. 

The cause is excessive sweating, from exercise in 
summer, or exposure to natural (sun) or artificial 
heat. Apparently the sweat itself, possibly the oil 
also, irritates the skin. Excessive or deficient or 
128 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


dark clothing may help cause it. The papular form 
is more common in those of fair skin, or overweight, 
or of nervous disposition, also in children; the ve¬ 
sicular variety occurs more often in undernourished 
and anemic individuals, including infants and chil¬ 
dren. 

Avoidance of excessive heat and the resulting 
profuse sweating, and an observance of strict cleanli¬ 
ness, are the chief preventive measures. Clothing 
should be light in weight and texture, and loosely 
worn. The diet should be light, easily digested. 
Constipation should be avoided or corrected. Bran 
baths are preferable to soap baths. Drying should 
be thorough, after which a soothing powder may be 
used—boric acid or equal parts of boric acid and 
powdered cornstarch. The part may be soothed 
quickly by sponging with ammonia water (one tea¬ 
spoon of ammonia to the quart of water), though 
limewater often is preferable for sponging children. 
Sweet oil or lanolin or other oil may be gently 
rubbed into the skin at creases and folds. 

PRURIGO 

This is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis marked 
by multiple pale-red papules and pronounced itching. 
It develops in infancy or early childhood, especially 
when undernourished, and may last for years or 
throughout life. It occurs chiefly on the face, ex¬ 
tensor surfaces of the extremities, and the trunk. 
The skin may be well marked by scratch marks and 
blood crusts. The skin often becomes dry, harsh 
and thickened. Severe cases are called prurigo 
ferox (cruel) or prurigo agria (wild). Mild cases 
129 


SKIN TROUBLES 


are called prurigo mitis. Prurigo astivalis (summer 
prurigo) is a form that returns each summer and 
remains very severe until cool weather brings relief. 
Prurigo infantalis develops in some very young 
children during the eruption of their first teeth. 

The disease in any form can be cured by per¬ 
sistent care and right living, using care to avoid in¬ 
testinal toxemia. It often leaves spontaneously at 
puberty, and any form except summer prurigo oc¬ 
casionally undergoes spontaneous improvement 
during summer. 

PSORIASIS 

This is a chronic inflammatory skin disease having 
dry grayish or white scales upon a shining red base 
and first appearing in adolescence or early adult 
life. It commences as small reddish papules crowned 
by minute silvery scales. The papules increase 
gradually to the size of a dime or dollar, though 
patches may unite and thus involve extensive areas 
covered with overlapping scales. The papules are 
dry, sharply defined, slightly elevated, and hardened. 
Any or all parts of the body may be affected, but 
the eruption usually is upon the extensor surfaces. 
In any case some patches of normal skin usually are 
found between lesions. The generalized form does 
not develop until in later years. Itching may be 
slight or absent. The general health remains good, 
though often there are disturbances of muscles and 
joints. The scaliness reduces as the eruption sub¬ 
sides and eventually the redness fades and the skin 
returns to its normal color and condition, except 
occasionally pigmentation remains. The course is 
130 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


chronic, usually improving in summer and being pro¬ 
nounced in winter. 

There seems to be some hereditary influence, as 
psoriasis may appear in several members of a fam¬ 
ily. The exact cause is not known, but doubtless 
some form of toxemia is responsible for its develop¬ 
ment or continuance. Often there is kidney de¬ 
ficiency, gout and rheumatism, with an underlying 
fermentation and putrefaction in the digestive tract. 
The intestinal toxemia necessitates attempts of the 
body to take care of the needed extra elimination 
through the skin. This causes a local inflammation 
of the cells of the skin. Overeating, wrong eating, 
wrong foods, wrong combinations of foods, etc., 
underlie the whole trouble. Males are somewhat 
more frequently affected than females, and the 
usual age for the start of the disease is between 10 
and 20. The disease is curable by proper care, but 
frequently requires months of rigid natural treat¬ 
ment. (See Chapter VI.) 

PURPURA 

Purpura means purple, and the affection derives 
its name from the appearance in the skin of vari¬ 
ously sized and shaped hemorrhagic macules in the 
skin, which are of reddish purple hues. They do 
not disappear under pressure. Purpura is a symp¬ 
tom, not a disease. It accompanies many infectious 
diseases. The cause is not known, though doubtless 
there is a toxic foundation. The trouble occurs 
most often in debilitated persons. In all forms the 
blood is absorbed, the changing colors being due to 
changes in the coloring matter of the blood in the 
131 


SKIN TROUBLES 


skin. There is no inflammation in the skin. There 
are different forms. 

Purpura Simplex. The eruption consists of crops 
of purplish hemorrhagic spots appearing on the 
extremities, especially the thighs, and lasting from 
a few days to a few months. Usually subjective 
symptoms and general disturbances are absent. 

Purpura Rheumatica. This less common form 
begins with or closely follows general fever symp¬ 
toms with severe rheumatic pains in the joints, which 
may be swollen. The eruptions are similar to those 
of purpura simplex and may be more or less general 
over the body, but usually most marked upon the 
lower limbs. Internal hemorrhages may prove 
fatal. It may last but a few weeks, but by repeated 
relapses may last for several months. 

Purpura Hemorrhagica (Land Scurvy). This 
severe form begins with fever and symptoms of 
general depression, with sudden eruptions into the 
mucous membranes as well as into the skin. Arthri¬ 
tis and nephritis sometimes develop, anemia, also. 
Some cases prove fatal, but recovery is usual within 
from two to six or eight weeks. Relapses are com¬ 
mon. Purpura fulminans (lightning-like) is a se¬ 
vere, rapidly fatal form, developing usually in 
children. 

Malignant Purpura is another name for cere¬ 
brospinal fever, which often is fatal or may leave 
the victim with defective mind and nervous system. 

Purpura Nervosa (Henoch’s purpura). This is 
a disease of childhood considered to be infectious, 
marked by outbreaks of purpura, erythema, hives, 
digestive disturbances, and frequently arthritis. 
132 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


The duration is from two or three weeks to two or 
three months. 

Purpura Iodica is an eruption of minute hemor¬ 
rhagic eruptions due to the internal use of any of 
the preparations of iodine. Some other drugs also 
produce purpuric eruptions. 

Purpura Nautica or Purpura Scorbutica is 
scurvy, the first name being given because scurvy 
formerly developed frequently among sailors, who 
could not get fresh fruits or vegetables for long 
periods of time between ports. As scurvy is not a 
skin affection (though it does have hemorrhages 
into the skin) it will not be considered further. 

Purpura Senilis is small and large hemorrhages 
occurring in the skin in old and debilitated individ¬ 
uals, appearing usually on the lower extremities. 

Purpuric eruptions often are produced by snake 
bite, toxins absorbed from the intestinal tract, ab¬ 
sorption of urine and bile, and perhaps of other 
end products of metabolism. It also sometimes de¬ 
velops in cases where unusual strain is put upon the 
blood vessels, as in heart disease, convulsions, in 
whooping cough, after the removal of splints from 
limbs, and where there is insufficient support of the 
vessels, as in some newborn infants. It occurs also 
(usually in adults) in exhausting diseases, and in 
some nervous diseases. 

The condition tends to spontaneous recovery in 
a short time. The trouble giving rise to the symp¬ 
tom should receive attention primarily. Drugs can¬ 
not favorably affect the eruptions, at least without 
harmfully affecting the general health. Patients 
suffering with purpura rheumatica and purpura 
133 


SKIN TROUBLES 


hemorrhagica should be put to bed and fasted, after 
which fast a fruit diet, milk diet, or fruit and green 
vegetable diet should be given. After this (and in 
other cases) the health-giving advice in Chapter VI 
should be followed, as the general health requires 
restoring in all of these cases. 

SCROFULODERMA 

See Scrofuloderma, under Tuberculosis of the 
Skin. 

SCRUM POX (IMPETIGO) 

This is an inflammatory dermatosis characterized 
by an eruption of pustules which rupture within a 
short time or become crusted. These pustules oc¬ 
cur mainly around the mouth and nostrils. Various 
qualifying terms are added, according to the mani¬ 
festations. 

The Contagious Form (impetigo contagiosa). 
This acute inflammatory form usually is referred to 
(medically) simply as impetigo, it being the usual 
form. It is considered to be contagious, since epi¬ 
demics are common in those under the age of ten in 
institutions. It is the most common skin disease of 
school children, especially of the poorer classes. 
But it is not uncommon in adults, especially in the 
beards of men where it gives rise to what sometimes 
is called “foul shave,” but it should not be confused 
with barber’s itch. It often is spread by the close 
contact and friction of football. It and scalp lice 
often are associated in children, sometimes the skin 
affection probably being started by the scratching 
occasioned by the lice. The proper “soil” of an im- 
134 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


poverished and toxic blood stream and poorly 
nourished and functioning skin doubtless are largely 
responsible for the disease. 

The eruptions are flat yellowish superficial vesicles 
or blebs, usually on the face, neck and hands. The 
vesicles rapidly become indented pustules, sur¬ 
rounded by a red area. Wafer-like crusts form, 
their edges detach, the crust curls up and falls off, 
leaving red spots that soon fade to normal. There 
may be slight fever, also itching. The disease may 
be spread over the body by the contents of the 
vesicles or pustules. 

Recovery is spontaneous after a course of one or 
two weeks. Treatment consists of dietetic modifica¬ 
tions which insure elimination and prevention of 
further toxic development, at the same time pro¬ 
viding ample nutrition, though for a short time it 
may be well to ignore need for sufficient nourish¬ 
ment for retaining or increasing the weight. The 
lesions should be soaked with a boric acid solution 
in boiled water, or with oil soaks, and then removed 
carefully, the parts being bathed often with boric 
acid solution. 

The Herpetic Form (impetigo herpetiformis). 
This is a rare acute form having crops of clustered 
small pustules developing usually on the lower front 
of the trunk, the groins, and inner and posterior 
surfaces of the thighs. Chills and fever accompany 
each outbreak of pustules. Various severe general 
symptoms often develop. The disease is supposed 
to be due to septic infection, occurring most often 
in pregnant women, also often following childbirth, 
though it is not confined to women, as it develops 
135 


SKIN TROUBLES 


in men and children. Few cases recover under usual 
medical treatment. It is reported that every case 
that has recovered was treated by the continuous 
warm bath—a half hour or more at a time in a tub 
nearly filled with water at a temperature of from 
95 to 100 degrees, the head being covered with a 
cold wet cloth during the bath. For protection of 
the skin, a thin coating of vaseline, lanolin or mutton 
suet often is used, but for such a short bath I do 
not consider this necessary. An absolute fast, with 
copious hot water drinking and at least two moder¬ 
ately hot enemas each day of as much water as the 
patient can conveniently inject, should reduce the 
danger materially. 


SCURVY 

See Purpura Nautica. 

SENILE SKIN CHANGES 

Numerous changes occur in the skin due to ad¬ 
vanced years; and this is to be expected. The sub¬ 
cutaneous fat is absorbed or it atrophies, and the 
skin itself, its elastic fibers and its glands atrophy, 
the connective tissue loses its elasticity and becomes 
loose. The skin may be smooth and rough in 
patches, with wrinkled and flabby areas. The skin 
is pale where exposed, or possibly pigmented, and 
has lost its warmth. General perspiration is re¬ 
duced, the sweat glands being atrophied, though in 
the armpits, groins and between the toes there often 
is foul-smelling perspiration which, because of the 
lessened acuteness of smell in the aged, is unrecog- 
136 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


nized, and often becomes a source of great annoy¬ 
ance to others. Probably due to change in the nerve 
endings, pruritis often develops, especially around 
the anus and genitals. The hair turns gray and 
often falls out; what remains usually is harsh. Hair 
grows on the upper lip and chin of some women in 
late years. In men especially the growth of the 
hair of the eyebrows and eyelids, in the nose and 
ears, and on the backs of the hands and toes may 
be excessive or much longer than usual, in old age. 

These skin changes, with the exception of the re¬ 
duction of skin elimination, usually cause no harm 
and require no special treatment. Proper living in 
youth and middle life will make many of these 
changes less pronounced, or will postpone them, 
though gray hair and baldness are due largely to 
hereditary influences and cannot be controlled to a 
great extent. Very often the milk diet or other 
suitable diet will greatly improve the skin. Mas¬ 
sage and oil rubs will help in some degree to reduce 
harshness and wrinkles. Unsightly hairs may be 
extracted by tweezers. The skin pigmentation can¬ 
not be altered without danger to the skin or general 
health. Foul-smelling regions require simple cleans¬ 
ing often, probably with a mild solution of boric 
acid, and the wearing of less heating garments. 

SHINGLES 

See Herpes Zoster. 

SUNBURN 

This is a very common skin affection in the sum¬ 
mer months and few people if any have escaped 
137 


SKIN TROUBLES 


some degree of it. It is caused by undue exposure 
to the rays of the sun, especially without preparatory 
graded exposures that produce a protective pigmen¬ 
tation called a tan. It is particularly likely to affect 
those of fair complexion, and those on water and 
mountains, where the strength of the rays is in¬ 
creased by reflection. Sunburns may be of different 
degrees. A moderate sunburn is a normal, healthy 
reaction of the skin and will do no harm. Beyond 
this degree there may be a severe inflammation of 
the skin, with swelling and large blister formations, 
accompanied by high fever. In all degrees there is 
later shedding of the skin, sometimes in huge sheets. 
The skin effects are produced by both the heat and 
ultra-violet rays of the sun, while the systemic dis¬ 
turbances mainly are due to the altered skin action 
and skin inflammation and the resulting toxins pro¬ 
duced. 

Sunburn is treated as are like degrees of burns 
from other sources. The irritation may be soothed 
by cold cream, sweet cream, sweet (unsalted) but¬ 
ter, lanolin, and by unguentine, dilute vinegar or 
acetic acid, or a solution of baking soda. Gradual 
exposures will prevent sunburn, whether the expo¬ 
sure be in occupation or swimming or other sport 
or in the treatment of disease by sun baths. Wear¬ 
ing colored veils is advisable for inexperienced sea 
voyagers and amateur mountaineers. See also 
Burns. 


SWEAT GLANDS, AFFECTIONS OF 

The sweat glands are subject to several derange¬ 
ments of their functions: 

138 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


Anidrosis is a deficiency of sweat. It often is 
symptomatic of fevers, diabetes, and other general 
disease, in some skin diseases, and from defective 
nerve action. 

Hyperidrosis is excessive sweating. It may be 
physiological, as when the body is very hot or dur¬ 
ing violent muscular exertion. It is common in 
tuberculosis and other diseases marked by debility. 
When due to disturbed nerve supply it usually is 
local. Local sweating may be mild or marked. The 
hands may sweat sufficiently to unfit one for manual 
work; and the feet may be made so tender and soft 
as to make walking very painful. 

Bromidrosis is offensive sweat. The locations 
most offending are the armpits and feet. In cer¬ 
tain diseases there are characteristic odors. Fre¬ 
quently the condition is associated with hyperidrosis. 

Chromidrosis is a condition wherein the sweat is 
colored. It may be due to some substance taken 
into the body or to the action of microorganisms in 
the sweat itself. Green, blue, red and yellow are 
the usual colors. The face and trunk usually are 
the seats. 

Hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is due to hem¬ 
orrhage into the sweat pores, and occurs usually in 
young hysterical women, upon the hands, feet, face, 
ears, and umbilicus. 

Hydrocystoma is the development upon the face 
and neck of discrete firm vesicles, due to the ob¬ 
struction of the sweat-gland ducts. The ducts 
become dilated. It is a summer condition, disap¬ 
pearing in winter months. It is met with most often 
in washerwomen. 


139 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Miliaria, or prickly heat, is discussed elsewhere 
in this chapter. 

Sudamen is a skin eruption of minute vesicles due 
to retention of sweat in the outer layers of the 
epidermis and resulting from obstruction of the 
sweat-gland ducts. It is common in those who 
sweat profusely, and in fever diseases wherein 
sweating occurs. The vesicles are not inflamed, and 
soon disappear by spontaneous involution. 

Uridrosis is the sweating of urinary contents, usu¬ 
ally resulting from suppression of the urine, as in 
Bright’s disease, cholera, certain nervous diseases, 
etc. 

Except for cleanliness and improving general 
health these conditions need no special treatment, 
and unless the underlying cause is combated no 
treatment will be effective. 

SYPHILITIC LESIONS (SYPHILIDES) 

There are many skin lesions of syphilis. They 
may be deep or superficial. During the course of 
the disease there may appear at various periods a 
variety of lesions: macules, papules, blebs, vesicles, 
pustules, scales, mucous patches, ulcers, fissures, mu¬ 
cous tubercles, gummy tubercles, crusts and scars. 
Lesions usually assume different forms. Character¬ 
istics of the lesions of syphilis are: variety of forms; 
“ham-color,” changing to copper color and then 
gray, then white shining scars; tendency to run to¬ 
gether; thin white, loosely attached scales; thick, 
dark, closely attached crusts; ulcers with deep edges, 
and easy to bleed; and depressed scars. 

My contention is that most of these lesions are 
140 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


due to the underlying multiplicity of toxins in the 
body, plus the numerous foreign and poisonous 
drugs used for the suppression of syphilis. The 
entire body must be treated, not the local skin affec¬ 
tions, except that local cleanliness and simple care 
of lesions are necessary. 

TUBERCULOSIS OF THE SKIN 

In medical literature are included under this gen¬ 
eral heading various dermatoses thought to be due 
to the germ found in tuberculosis—the tubercle 
bacillus. Among these dermatoses are those con¬ 
sidered below, also milium, considered earlier. 

True Tuberculosis (tuberculosis cutis). This is 
a rare disease, thought to be due to direct contact 
with tuberculous ulceration. The soft tubercles in 
the skin slowly soften and become deep ulcers 
covered with serum, pus and blood. The bottom of 
the ulcers is red. A gray crust forms on the unre¬ 
moved discharge. The usual locations are the lips, 
external lips of the female sexual organs, and the 
anus. 

Warty Tuberculosis of the Skin. This also is a 
rare disease. It occurs in those who come in contact 
with dead bodies, either animal or human. The 
disease usually is on the hands, especially on the 
knuckles, beginning as a nodule at the site of an 
abrasion. Around the nodule form minute pustules, 
surrounding a circle of little warts which contain 
pus. The disease is chronic. Cleanliness, with con¬ 
stitutional treatment, should correct it. 

Orificial Tuberculosis. This is very rare. It 
occurs near orifices—on the mucous membrane about 
141 


SKIN TROUBLES 


the nose, mouth, anus, and vulva. Shallow scattered 
painless ulcers form, with soft edges often covered 
with crusts. It is one of the final manifestations of 
a far advanced internal tuberculosis, which rapidly 
progresses to a fatal end. 

Scrofuloderma. This is a scrofulous or tubercu¬ 
lous disease of the skin, secondary to tuberculosis 
beneath the skin, usually of the lymph glands. Most 
often the face and neck are the seats of the infection. 
The skin becomes purplish, tense and thin, and later 
perforated with holes over glands that become 
swollen with tumors. Cheesy pus exudes through 
the perforations. The disease progresses slowly, 
often forming fistulous tracts, and resulting in 
knotty scars. Constitutional treatment is required. 
(See Chapter VI.) 

Lupus. By this term usually is meant lupus vul¬ 
garis, though it has been applied to various forms 
of skin affections. It often is called tuberculosis of 
the skin. It is thought to be transferred by kissing, 
hence the frequency with which the face is involved. 
Lupus usually develops before the age of 20, often 
before the age of 10, though it is not congenital. 
Special preference is for the nose, cheeks and ears, 
particularly the nose. At times the trunk and ex¬ 
tremities, also the mucous membranes and carti¬ 
lages, are the seats of the trouble. Itching is ab¬ 
sent, pain slight if at all. 

The first lesions are numerous deep-seated red¬ 
dish yellow or brownish papules which slowly de¬ 
velop into tubercles. They are embedded in the skin 
but are perceptibly softer than the skin. They have 
been called “apple jelly nodules” because of their 
142 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 

consistency. They may be absorbed or may break 
down and form ulcers which are chronic. The ulcers 
slowly spread, and may invade all the soft tissues 
beneath, though the bone is never affected. One 
part of the ulcer spreads while in other parts is 
formed scar tissue which itself often becomes the 
location of new tubercles. 

Poverty, filth and undernutrition, with resulting 
impoverishment of health, are the most important 
causative factors. The fact that children frequently 
scratch and pick the face with filthy hands partly 
explains the affinity of the disease for children and 
the face. 

The outcome depends upon the patient’s vitality 
and general condition and upon how well natural 
treatment can be and is followed. General treat¬ 
ment is necessary. 

Erythematous Lupus (lupus erythematosus, su¬ 
perficial lupus). This is a hardening of the skin 
showing well-defined red patches more or less 
covered with adherent yellowish gray scales. It de¬ 
velops chiefly in adult women, and frequently fol¬ 
lows acne or seborrhea. One form appears on the 
ears and hands after chilblains (lupus pernio). 
The face, chiefly about the nose, is attacked, the 
lesions being small red, somewhat scaly papules. 
These gradually unite and form a red patch with 
elevated edges and depressed centers. The disease 
spreads slowly, without ulcer formation. Subjec¬ 
tive symptoms are rare. 

Well-adapted natural methods of treatment 
bring favorable though slow response in this dis¬ 
ease. As with lupus vulgaris, every natural method 
143 


SKIN TROUBLES 


is to be employed, and cod-liver oil is an excellent 
addition to the diet in either form. 

URTICARIA 

See Hives. 

VACCINATION DERMATITIS 

Various skin lesions and diseases are likely to 
follow vaccination, especially vaccination against 
smallpox. They are the result solely of the body’s 
general reaction to the pus and virus and its effort 
to purify the blood, body fluids and tissues. Among 
these skin diseases are erythema, erythema multi¬ 
forme, hives, lichen, and miliaria; also impetigo 
contagiosa (medically considered as resulting from 
infection of the vaccinated area), syphilis, erysip¬ 
elas, and various others. They may develop shortly 
after or not until a few weeks after vaccination. 
Some result in destruction of much tissue, such as 
localized gangrene and large, perhaps multiple 
boils, and may necessitate amputation of the vac¬ 
cinated member. The best “treatment” for these 
skin affections is to avoid vaccination. Rigid elimi¬ 
native measures (fasting, copious water drinking, 
large hot enemas, etc.) will prevent them after vac¬ 
cination in most cases, or usually lessen their se¬ 
verity and duration very appreciably. 

WARTS 

A wart (called verruca, which is Latin for wart) 
is a clearly defined papillary outgrowth on the skin 
due to an overgrowth of the papillae and true skin. 

144 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


The exact cause is not known. Warts appear chiefly 
in childhood. There are several forms. 

Common warts (verruca vulgaris) are usually 
found on the fingers and backs of the hands of chil¬ 
dren. They are irregularly round, firm, and ele¬ 
vated. 

Fingerlike warts (verruca digitata) develop usu¬ 
ally on the scalp and are elevated, with several 
slender projections reaching out from their bases. 

Flat warts (verrucae plana) are well-defined flat 
elevations, pigmented brownish to black, occurring 
usually on the backs of old people. This is the type 
that occasionally becomes malignant as a result of 
irritation by injury or caustics for removal. 

Slender warts (verrucae filiformis) are slender 
threadlike outgrowths developing upon soft parts, 
chiefly upon the eyelids, face and neck. 

Venereal warts (verrucae acuminata) are groups 
of soft red vascular vegetations developing upon 
the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, 
anus, penis, and labia in young people. When on 
the sex organs they are covered with an offensive 
puslike excretion. These growths are apt to grow 
rapidly and may resemble a raspberry or cocks¬ 
comb. 

Warts may be removed by excision, the electric 
needle, caustic drugs, or the x-ray; but the flat 
warts of elderly people should be let alone. 

WEN 

A wen (steatoma) is a sac composed of a dis¬ 
tended oil gland or duct, filled with the oily matter 
from the gland. They are painless round or oval 
145 


SKIN TROUBLES 


elevations from pea size to as large as an egg, and 
occur most often on the scalp, also on the neck, 
back and face. They usually remain stationary for 
years, but may grow slowly, or undergo inflamma¬ 
tion and suppuration. They should be evacuated 
and the sac taken out. If the envelope is not re¬ 
moved the cysts will return. It is not advisable to 
“break” them, as frequently is advised. 

WHITE SKIN 

The appearance of white spots and patches of 
skin is called acquired leucoderma, vitiligo, and pie¬ 
bald skin. The spots are of various shapes and 
sizes, and in color are milk-white or pale pinkish 
white. They usually spread slowly, and they may 
unite. The skin is normal in all other respects. 
The hair on these spots may or may not become 
white. The spots at times occur in adults, and last 
throughout the remainder of life. Negroes are 
most susceptible to this condition. The causes are 
not known, though it is thought to be due to altered 
local nerve supply. A few cases undergo spontane¬ 
ous restoration of normal color. 

WRINKLES 

Wrinkles or lines may be due to the unrestrained 
emotions that have been given expression in the face 
—fretting, worrying, anger, envy, etc., on the one 
hand and joy, gladness, mirth and laughter on the 
other hand. Those produced by beneficial emotions 
may be as pronounced as others, but they are more 
pleasing to encounter, and give their owners less 
concern. Loss of flesh or “habitual” or constitu- 
146 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO SYSTEMIC DISORDERS 


tional thinness tends to line formation. Pain any¬ 
where in the body is registered in the face and may 
produce lines. Wrinkles are common in old age, 
from loss of skin elasticity, but are still more pro¬ 
nounced if the health is below normal. Using the 
eyes for “fine” work in a poor light or intense light 
or when the eyes must be strained to see effectively, 
and supposedly deep concentration upon any mental 
or physical work, will produce lines about the eyes 
and especially the frowning, scowling lines and 
“crow’s feet.” Lack of fresh air and a reasonable 
amount of sunlight and wholesome physical activity; 
digestive troubles; headache; tight clothing about 
any part of the body, especially about the throat, 
waist and feet; exposure to heat (as in stoking) or 
to sunlight (as engineers) ; and numerous other in¬ 
fluences may make permanent lines in various parts 
of the face, or all over the face. Loss of teeth 
without replacement by artificial teeth will produce 
more or less deep lines in the cheeks. 

To prevent wrinkles, at least prematurely or ex¬ 
cessively or deeply, keep the skin as youthful and 
elastic as possible, the weight approximately at nor¬ 
mal, the emotions under control, and learn to relax 
all parts of the body not involved in any task or 
duty or pleasure. To reduce and possibly remove 
some of the wrinkles the same measures are neces¬ 
sary. It may be necessary to bring about an 
increase in weight. Scientific massage may be bene¬ 
ficial, but wrongly applied massage may intensify 
the lines. Advertised methods usually are of little 
value, and some are positively injurious. “Face¬ 
lifting” operations often result in great deformity, 
147 


SKIN TROUBLES 


and rarely accomplish favorable results. The meas¬ 
ures given in the final three chapters will be of 
greatest service in eradicating or smoothing over 
wrinkles. There is no short-cut road to reduce 
wrinkles or to rid the skin of any other blemishes 
and secure a youthful skin. Peace of mind, and 
stopping the things that cause the wrinkles will be 
necessary. 


148 


CHAPTER V 


Skin Diseases Due to Parasites 

M ANY parasites live in or on the human body. 

Under certain conditions, these are capable 
of causing much trouble or ill health. If the envi¬ 
ronment is right for their growth these parasites 
multiply; but under other conditions they multiply 
slowly if at all, and often appear to do no harm. 

Agriculturists and horticulturists know that when 
plants and trees are deprived of some of the ele¬ 
ments of normal nutrition they are most subject to 
the inroads of parasites. These can be controlled 
by spraying, but the attacks will return if later 
spraying is neglected. Resistance is best provided 
by liberal feeding and right balance of plant food. 
This also is true among animals, including man. 
Those of lowered resistance are not able to prevent 
parasitic invasion. However, when health is re¬ 
stored or increased to normal or to more nearly 
normal, resistance is raised and, very often, the 
parasites disappear. 

Not all people, however, whose resistance is im¬ 
paired, are troubled with parasites, but some are. 
Particularly affected by parasitic diseases are the 
very poor and those who live in unhygienic, un¬ 
healthy, unsanitary surroundings and who eat im¬ 
poverished, unwholesome, and unclean food and 
who drink polluted water. Filthy water, dirty beds, 
lack of bathing, etc., favor the acquisition and de¬ 
velopment of parasites. The kind or kinds of para- 
149 


SKIN TROUBLES 


sites acquired will depend upon what parasites are 
native to and present in the locality and climate, 
and the season of the year. Or, one may receive 
an imported variety from some one else who is in¬ 
fested with them. 

Parasitic diseases sometimes, though rarely, are 
found among the well-to-do and those who live con¬ 
ventionally clean lives. If parasites do attack this 
class it is because the resistance to parasitic invasion 
has been broken down by some unwholesome mode 
of life and, through some channel, the victims have 
come in contact with the parasites. 

Before most parasites can gain a foothold in the 
skin and thrive therein or thereon, there must be a 
lowering of the powers of life; nutrition must be 
abnormal, and renewal of tissues slow and imper¬ 
fect. In such cases the skin is weakened and de¬ 
bilitated and ready to undergo degeneration. 
Physiological scaling of the skin takes place pre¬ 
maturely and the skin fails to renew itself promptly, 
constantly and perfectly. This gives opportunity 
for parasitic invasion. 

Because of a lack of some of the elements and 
conditions necessary to the production of high-grade 
tissue, retrogression takes place and parasites find 
a ready entrance into the skin. Therefore, it will 
be easy for the reader to understand that any in¬ 
fluence that impairs the powers of life, and thus 
impairs and disturbs nutrition will build a systemic 
condition favorable to invasion by parasitic organ¬ 
isms. The reader also will readily see that in order 
to bring about a complete and permanent cure of 
parasitic diseases it is essential to build up the gen- 
150 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


eral health and correct all environmental factors 
that are impairing health, as well as to give the 
necessary specific attention to the skin for the re¬ 
moval of the parasites or to restore the altered skin 
to normal, or both. 

Parasites are conveyed from one individual to 
another in many ways. The use of common hair¬ 
brushes, combs, towels, hats and caps, wearing 
apparel, sleeping in the same bed, or coming in con¬ 
tact in any other way with the body or clothing of 
the infested individual or those articles he has con¬ 
taminated, all are means of conveying parasites 
from one person to another. Some parasites are 
carried by dogs, cats, birds, and other domesticated 
animals and pets. Once admitted into a house the 
parasites find many hiding places from which they 
sally forth and disturb nearly everyone who lives 
in the house. Some people seem to be immune to 
some of these pests. Many, for instance, are never 
attacked by bedbugs, though the room may be “full” 
of them. Some are never bitten by mosquitoes. 
This peculiarity is thought by some to be hereditary. 
These two pests, however, are not parasites. 

Parasites live upon or in the skin. They feed 
upon its tissues and fluids, and produce their young 
in its layers. They thus form a constant source of 
irritation which causes itching and inflammation in 
more or less degree. The skin endeavors to protect 
itself, which efforts at self-defense constitute most 
of the symptoms of the diseases or diseases caused 
by the particular parasite. The excretions of the 
parasites, of course, are poisonous or irritating and 
form part of the cause of the skin disease. 

151 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Below are given the most common of the para¬ 
sitic skin diseases and insect pests. 

BEDBUGS 

As stated above, these pests are not parasites, 
though they may get part of their nourishment from 
human bodies. They attack the skin of most people 
who come in contact with them, and suck their 
blood through the minute skin openings they pro¬ 
duce by their bites. The sites of their bites (which 
may be anywhere on the body surface) are marked 
by inflammatory papules or wheals containing cen¬ 
tral hemorrhagic points or bleeding punctures. The 
removal of the bug soon is followed by the disap¬ 
pearance of all signs of its presence. 

BITES 

Some of the common insects whose bites produce 
more or less irritation and inflammation will be con¬ 
sidered separately. In this brief section will be 
mentioned the bites of animals (dogs, cats, rats), 
the leech, and snakes. Most of these bites are 
harmless to people in good health. However, 
when the health is considerably lowered, and in 
elderly people and children the results are apt to be 
more or less serious, especially of snake bites. 

More and more the public is being worked into 
a rabies or hydrophobia scare, every person being 
bitten by a dog being suspected of being a subject 
for later development of rabies if not treated by 
the Pasteur’s anti-rabic virus. Recently a man in 
Indiana died supposedly of hydrophobia. He had 
the symptoms that the ignorant consider to be 
152 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


caused by the development of the rabies poison— 
foaming at the mouth, biting or attempted biting 
of other people, barking like a dog, etc. These 
symptoms and the quick death occurred one year 
after the bite by a dog that was supposed to be the 
cause of the disease and death. In all probability 
the man had what might be called “mental rabies” 
—he had worried over the possible consequences 
of the bite, had been misinformed of the symptoms 
of the disease, and slowly had developed these 
symptoms. Usually a dog bite is harmless, except 
that it may lead to serious consequences in the same 
way as may any other neglected wound in those 
with impure blood. There is such a condition as 
rabies, but that is another matter. Proper care 
immediately after a bite will prevent this serious 
toxic disease. 

Rats, cats, weasels and ferrets may produce an 
intermittent fever by their bites, especially rats. In 
enfeebled people and children, especially, snake 
bites may prove serious; in fact, the outcome in 
these cases frequently is unfavorable. There are 
few snakes in the United States that are poisonous 
to a dangerous degree. The commonest of these 
are the rattlesnake, the copperhead, and the moc¬ 
casin. 

In any case of bite, the first needs are to prevent 
absorption of the poison or possible poison by the 
body, then to sterilize the wound. In most animal 
bites and leeches mere cleansing of the wound is 
sufficient, though the application of an antiseptic 
dressing cannot be condemned and usually is very 
advisable. These cases usually should be treated 
153 


SKIN TROUBLES 


or be under the observation of a capable physician, 
though one should not immediately consent to virus 
or serum treatment that likely will be advised. For 
snake bites there should be applied immediately, 
tightly about the member and above the wound, a 
handkerchief or strap or cord, then the wound 
sucked vigorously if the mouth mucous membrane is 
healthy and unbroken, after which (or instead of 
which) it is advisable to cut out the bitten skin, let¬ 
ting the part bleed freely. The binding ligature 
may be loosened slightly occasionally, then re-tight¬ 
ened, in order to allow what poison may remain 
about the wound to enter the blood in minute quan¬ 
tities in order to aid the body in building up defens¬ 
ive chemistry against it. Reduction of systemic toxe¬ 
mia by a lighter, more eliminative diet, and very 
large quantities of water by mouth and as enemas, 
should hasten elimination of conditions within the 
body that make any wound capable of resulting 
seriously, and especially a wound that at the same 
time is associated with injection of some definite 
poison into the body. 

CATERPILLAR DERMATITIS 

This sometimes is called brown-tail moth derma¬ 
titis, though the irritation or inflammation more 
often is caused by the caterpillar stage than the 
fully mature moth stage. Besides, there are other 
caterpillars than that of the brown-tail moth that 
are capable of producing skin lesions. The trouble 
is in summer only, and due to the hairs or bites of 
the insects. In most cases red patches form within 
an hour or so after contact, these patches develop- 
154 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


ing into wheals like those of hives. Sometimes a 
more severe skin inflammation develops. Usually 
itching is intense. The face, neck and arms are the 
parts most often affected. The dermatitis usually 
is of short duration, though occasionally may cause 
some concern by its extent and duration. 

CHIGGER 

This little insect also is called chegoe, chegra, 
chigoe, chigre, and jigger, besides the long Latin 
names. The female penetrates the skin, burrows 
along for some distance beneath the epidermis, then 
deposits her eggs at this point. In the United 
States the insects seem to be somewhat different 
from those in South America and the West Indies. 
In our country the skin affection consists merely of 
small welts with aggravating itch, but without fur¬ 
ther trouble, the disturbance lasting only the greater 
part of a day, perhaps a little longer. Any part of 
the skin that has been in contact with grass may be 
affected. In the South American countries the en¬ 
trance of the insect usually is at the toes, where its 
presence gives rise within a week to a painful edema, 
the formation of pustules, and, in some cases, ulcer¬ 
ation and gangrene. Often the results are serious, 
sometimes fatal. Except when there develop ab¬ 
scesses, pustules and other destructive processes, 
removal of the mite is all the treatment necessary. 
This may be done with a sterilized needle, the nest 
of eggs then being squeezed out; or, as the natives 
do, by holding a lighted cigarette (or other fire) 
to the spot. The serious lesions are to be treated 
the same as similar lesions from other causes. 

155 


SKIN TROUBLES 


ERYTHRASMA 

This is a rare disease caused by a vegetable 
fungus called Microsporon. It occurs usually in the 
armpit and the groin, also in the folds just anterior 
to the crotch, and between the hips and thighs pos¬ 
teriorly. It appears as small, round or irregular, 
well-defined, slightly bran-like patches which are 
reddish brown in color. It is accompanied by itch¬ 
ing, is slowly progressive, and may last for years. 
Filth and poverty are leading causes; hence removal 
of these conditions will tend to cure. 

FLEA BITES 

The common flea is a nuisance more because of 
its irritating buzz than because of its bite, for the 
latter is comparatively uncommon. But when it 
does bite the flea leaves a bleeding puncture with 
a surrounding reddened area. In individuals hav¬ 
ing sensitive skins wheals develop. The irritation 
is short-lived. 


GADFLY 

The gadfly, breeze fly or common horsefly (the 
female) has a piercing snout that produces a pain¬ 
ful bite, though it is not poisonous. While they are 
a considerable pest to animals and often suck much 
blood, they rarely bite humans for the reason that 
they quickly are driven away. 

The botfly is quite different. It deposits its eggs 
in the skin, where a painful boil-like swelling de¬ 
velops, which may suppurate. The larvae usually 
are cast out with the pus. This trouble is common 
in the tropics. With the larvas removed one need 
156 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


only wait for the healing of the wounds, though 
mild antiseptic dressings may be employed if de¬ 
sired. 

HARVEST MITE 

The harvest mite (also called mower’s mite, har¬ 
vest tick, red bug), is the larval stage of certain 
ticks found upon grasses and bushes during the sum¬ 
mer and autumn. They are brick-red or yellowish 
red in color. They either bury their heads in the 
openings of hair follicles or burrow beneath the 
skin, causing intense itching. The legs and thighs 
usually are chiefly affected. Removal of the mite 
ends the trouble, as they are nonpoisonous. 

ITCH 

Itch is a common term applied to a number of 
parasitic affections having itching as a prominent 
symptom. 

Baker’s itch is a form of pruritis common among 
bakers who mix doughs by hand. The hands and 
arms, of course, are the parts affected. Since me¬ 
chanical mixers have come into use almost univer¬ 
sally, except in the smaller shops, the affection is 
much less common than formerly. 

Ground itch (also called coolie itch, swamp itch, 
toe itch, water itch, water sore, and skin worm). 
The affection is common among the coolies of parts 
of India, and among barefoot workers in tropical 
and sub-tropical Asia, also, less frequently, America. 
It is a vesicular dermatitis, characterized by swell¬ 
ing and itching preceding the eruption, which is 
papular or macular at first, soon becoming vesicular. 
157 


SKIN TROUBLES 


It is considered to be the result of entrance of a 
type of hookworm into the skin. The feet are al¬ 
most entirely the parts affected. 

Scabies. When the unqualified term “The Itch” 
is given, scabies usually is referred to. It also is 
called “the seven-year itch.” Scabies is a contagious 
disease of the skin due to an animal parasite or itch 
mite (sarcoptes scabiei). The disease is considered 
highly contagious. It occurs at any age, being trans¬ 
mitted by direct bodily contact or by bedclothes, 
towels, toilet seats, etc. It is common among those 
who live in filth, though thoroughly clean people 
can contract it by coming in contact with articles 
contaminated by those infested. The most common 
way of contracting is by the use of towels, with in¬ 
adequate drying between the fingers (the finger 
webs). The mites easily burrow beneath this soft 
skin, usually being undisturbed by friction until they 
have descended beneath the epidermis. 

After getting below the top skin the itch mite 
burrows, either in straight or zigzag lines. Along 
the course of these burrows it lays its eggs and de¬ 
posits its waste matter. The mite perishes, but the 
eggs hatch within from eight to ten days. The new 
mites make burrows of their own, in which they 
also deposit their eggs and excreta. When this 
larger crop is mature the mites repeat the process, 
and in this way the disease spreads. 

The mite is a yellowish white parasite, barely 
visible to the unaided eye. The female is twice 
the size of the male. 

At the point where the mite enters the skin a 
small papule, vesicle or pustule forms. The course 
158 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


of the burrow shows as a slightly dark elevation of 
the skin, varying in length from one-eighth to one- 
half of an inch. In addition to the burrows, well- 
marked cases of “Itch” present multiform eruptions 
consisting of papules, vesicles, pustules, crusts, ex¬ 
coriations (scratches or raw areas), and thickening 
of the skin. In extreme cases the skin may present 
the appearance of the bark of a tree. Intense itch¬ 
ing accompanies the affection. It is much worse at 
night, due to the increased warmth from the bed 
and covering. Children with very sensitive skin 
often develop a high degree of inflammation. 

The affection usually begins between the fingers 
or toes. Besides these locations for the eruptions, 
these appear on the front surface of the wrist, the 
flexor surfaces of the extremities, in the axilla or 
armpits, on the breasts of women, around the navel, 
the buttocks, and penis. The face seldom is affected 
except occasionally in infants. 

The disease spreads rapidly, in many cases 
reaching advanced stages within one or two weeks. 
It is progressive and often lasts for many months. 
No tendency toward spontaneous cure is exhibited. 
It is quickly cured by proper treatment. This con¬ 
sists of some preparation which will destroy the 
mites and their eggs, scabies being one of a few 
diseases in which other than natural methods are 
required. The best treatment is a prolonged hot 
bath with soap, followed by a good rubbing of the 
affected areas with a sulphur ointment every night 
for three nights, without change of underwear but 
with only the one bath at the start of the treatment, 
one at the end of the three applications, and again 
159 


SKIN TROUBLES 


after a second three applications, which completes 
the treatment. Sprinkling dry sulphur over the bed 
sheet upon which the patient lies is advisable, also, 
for the six nights of sulphur ointment application. 
Some use other applications than the sulphur oint¬ 
ment: beta-naphthol, balsam of Peru, staphisagra, 
etc. The general health must be looked after, 
especially to restore the skin to normal. 

Straw itch (grain itch, straw-bed itch). This is 
an eruptive skin disorder caused by a minute animal 
parasite. In the United States the disease usually 
develops between May and October, following con¬ 
tact with cereals or straw which is infested with the 
specific mite. The mite lives upon the larvae of 
grain-destroying insects. Farmers, harvest hands, 
laborers, etc., receive the mite in contact with the 
grain in the field, granary or storehouse, in stacking, 
baling or otherwise handling the straw; shippers, 
porters and others by carrying the grain in sacks; 
those who use straw in packing, by contact with the 
straw; and those who use straw in bedding mat¬ 
tresses. The most severe attacks are said to have 
occurred in those who sleep upon straw mattresses 
in which the mites existed. 

Mild systemic symptoms often precede the out¬ 
break of skin eruptions, such as general restlessness, 
loss of appetite, slight fever, sometimes vomiting. 
For the most part the eruptions occur as wheals, 
many of which have at their summit a central vesicle 
from the size of a pinpoint to considerably larger. 
Often the eruption may consist of barely raised 
red hivelike macules or edematous papules. They 
quickly become pustular, closely resembling chicken- 
160 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


pox vesicles. The eruption is of rose tint, varying 
in extent but usually profuse, covering the trunk 
and lower limbs. Occasionally a few eruptions ap¬ 
pear on the face, but seldom on the hands and feet. 
Itching is intense. The untreated disease often 
persists for weeks, new lesions taking the place of 
old ones. Usually getting rid of the infested mat¬ 
tress or avoiding contact with infested straw or 
bags, etc., with sterilization of the clothing and hot 
baths to rid the skin surface of any migrating mites, 
will take care of the trouble. Beta-naphthol alone 
or in combination with some other elements may be 
used to hasten riddance of the mites. 

LICE 

Lousiness (pediculosis or phthiriasis) is a con¬ 
tagious insect disease caused by the presence of lice 
or pediculi. There are three varieties. 

Scalp lice (pediculosis capitis, pediculosis of the 
scalp) is caused by the presence on the scalp of 
head lice, or their ova or “nits.” Severe itching, 
which causes scratching, leads to the formation of 
excoriations, with either serous, purulent or bloody 
exudate. The exudate dries, and forms crusts and 
mats the hair together. It usually is accompanied 
by a foul odor. Due to irritation, the glands of the 
back of the neck often become enlarged and in many 
cases suppurate. This occurs most frequently over 
the back part of the head—the occipital region. 
Papules, pustules, and excoriations frequently are 
scattered about the neck and face. 

Body lice (pediculosis corporis, pediculosis of the 
body) are larger than the scalp louse. The louse 
161 


SKIN TROUBLES 


takes up its abode in the seams of the underclothing, 
where it deposits its eggs, the eggs hatching out 
within about six days. The louse is present upon 
the skin only when in search of food. The move¬ 
ments of the louse upon the skin give rise to in¬ 
tense itching, which causes scratching, which results 
in linear scratch marks, blood crusts, and, in chronic 
cases, pigmentation and thickening of the skin. 
Those parts of the skin coming in contact with the 
seams of the underclothing—the shoulders, chest, 
waist and thighs—are most affected. Hemorrhagic 
punctures exist at the sites where the lice have ex¬ 
tracted blood. 

The disease is rare among children, but is com¬ 
mon in adults in middle life or advanced age, among 
the poorer classes. 

Crab lice (pubic lice, pediculosis pubis) are the 
smallest of the lice. The mites fasten themselves, 
to the hairs of the genital region, where they cling 
tenaciously while burying their heads deeply into 
the orifices of the hair follicles. The pubes (the 
hairs above the external genitals) and the perineum 
(between the genitals and the anus) are the regions 
usually involved. Occasionally the armpits and the 
hairy portion of the chest are attacked, and in rare 
cases even the eyebrows, eyelashes and beard are 
invaded. The disease, which usually is contracted 
during sexual intercourse, is confined almost exclu¬ 
sively to adults. 

The usual symptom is itching, which varies in 
degree and is accompanied by hemorrhagic punc¬ 
tures, papules and scratches about the affected parts, 
usually the genital region. 

162 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


The little mites or their nits easily are seen on the 
hairs. 

The lice (any kind) and their nits must be de¬ 
stroyed, after which the skin usually will quickly 
return to normal. It usually requires some mild 
insecticide to bring about the destruction of the 
mites. Cleanliness alone may accomplish the re¬ 
sult early in some cases, but often fails to dislodge 
all the mites or their nits. A qualified physician 
easily can take care of such an affection, as there 
will be nothing but external applications to use. 
Beta-naphthol, tobacco, staphisagra, vinegar, tinc¬ 
ture of green soap, etc., may be used. Some find 
coal oil satisfactory, for head lice especially. 

LUMPY JAW 

This disease, otherwise known as actinomycosis* 
is caused by the ray fungus. It is not very common 
in man, but sometimes is communicated from cows 
or swine, either of which, especially cows, it attacks 
rather frequently. 

The disease appears as deep-seated tumors 
(lumps) or swellings, which approach the surface, 
become red or livid in color and break down, form¬ 
ing pus. The face and neck are the parts usually 
affected, the fungus being supposed to gain entrance 
to these tissues around carious or decayed teeth. 
The onset of the disease is insidious; often weeks 
or months elapse before the skin manifestations 
appear. This, perhaps, depends much upon the 
general systemic condition. If the internal organs, 
become invaded the outlook is serious. 

163 


SKIN TROUBLES 


MOSQUITOES 

Some people seem to be bothered not at all with 
mosquitoes, the insects apparently ignoring them. 
Others seem to attract mosquitoes from great dis¬ 
tances, and these usually or frequently are very 
markedly affected by the bites. The average person 
will be likely to bites if the mosquitoes are around, 
but does not “draw” them, and the bites are of com¬ 
paratively little consequence. A reddened spot or 
wheal develops at the site of each bite, accompanied 
with itching. The wheal may be very minute, usu¬ 
ally about as large as a split pea, sometimes as large 
as a quarter; and the itching may be slight or in¬ 
tense, for a few moments only or for the greater 
part of a day. If there have been many mosquito 
bites within a short time there may be produced 
sleeplessness, much nervousness or restlessness, loss 
of appetite, and even fever and vomiting, espe¬ 
cially in nervous children. Alternate hot and cold 
applications, quickly applied, usually will give con¬ 
siderable relief. Ammonia water may be applied, 
or menthol-camphor. Compresses of boric acid so¬ 
lution are helpful. The oil of eucalyptus, cinnamon, 
or cloves, smeared on the skin, will keep mosquitoes 
away. 

MOTHS 

See Caterpillar. 


PORK MEASLES 

This is a tumor-like skin lesion, the contents of 
which are seen under the microscope to contain par- 
164 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


asites. The larvae of the taenia solium (pork tape¬ 
worm) are the cause of the trouble, and are 
observed as rounded, firm, elastic tumors ranging in 
size from a pea to a walnut. They occur upon the 
trunk and limbs, and may remain for years un¬ 
changed. Often their removal by surgery is nec¬ 
essary. 

RINGWORM 

Ringworm is a rather common skin disease, due 
to a vegetable parasite called tinea trichophytina. 
There are six varieties. 

Ringworm of the Body (tinea circinata, herpes 
circinatus, tinea trichophytina corporis). This be¬ 
gins as one or more rounded or irregular pea-sized 
hyperemic scaly patches. After a few days these 
form into a circle with very small papules or vesi¬ 
cles around the outside. The patches heal in the 
center at the same time they spread from their 
outer borders. They are pink or red in color, their 
borders are slightly elevated, and upon scaling they 
throw off bran-like flakes. Neighboring patches 
may come together, producing ring-shaped patches 
of skin that overlap or fold over each other. Itch¬ 
ing usually is slight. 

Ringworm of the Scalp (tinea tonsurans, herpes 
tonsurans, tinea trichophytina capitis). This be¬ 
gins as does ringworm of the body, and may occur 
anywhere upon the hairy scalp. The hair follicles 
are invaded and the hair at that spot falls out, pro¬ 
ducing a partially bald spot. Rarely, ringworm 
may be diffused over a large area of the scalp with¬ 
out producing well-defined and limited patches. 
165 


SKIN TROUBLES 


This form is called disseminated ringworm. The 
disease is confined almost wholly to children. 

Inflammatory Ringworm of Scalp and Beard 
(tinea kerion). This form is highly inflammatory 
and ends in suppuration. It forms reddish or yel¬ 
lowish raised boggy patches which are honeycombed 
with the distended openings of hair follicles, through 
which exudes yellowish pus. Burning, itching and 
pain are present, but vary in degrees. The suppura¬ 
tion hastens cure, though it may destroy the hair 
follicles and result in permanent baldness. 

Ringworm of the Beard (tinea sycosis, parasitic 
sycosis, tinea trichophytina barbae). This is the 
usual form of ringworm of the beard. It begins 
and progresses about the same as ringworm of the 
body and scalp, with the exception that induration 
or hardening, and nodular or lumpy tumors de¬ 
velop. Numerous pustules form at the sides of 
the hair follicles, which soon rupture and give off 
a yellowish pus, which dries and forms crusts. The 
hair becomes dry and brittle, and either breaks off 
or falls out. Itching and burning vary in degree. 
The chin, neck and under surface of the lower jaw 
most often are invaded, the upper lip rarely. 

Eczematoid Ringworm (epidermophytosis, tinea 
cruris, tinea inguinalis, eczema marginatum, Dhobie 
itch, washerwoman’s itch). This disease is very 
common. It closely resembles intertrigo. There 
are several different types: macular, vesicular, 
papular, scaling, macerated (soft from soaking), 
callous, like keratosis, etc. Usually several forms 
will appear in an individual case, though there are 
occasional true forms. When the body or skin is in 
166 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


particularly poor condition so the fungus grows 
well or when the fungus is especially vigorous the 
disease spreads, perhaps fairly rapidly. The thigh, 
perhaps as far down as the knee, the pubes (around 
but not in the hairy region), the penis or labia, the 
scrotum, the region between the labia or scrotum 
and the anus, and the cleft between the buttocks as 
far up as the sacrum are locations that may be 
affected by the vesicular type. There is apt to be 
extreme itching in some of these locations, especially 
the labia, around the anus, and between the but¬ 
tocks. The macular form is found especially under 
hanging breasts, between the toes, between the penis 
and scrotum, and between the buttocks. The usual 
location of the callous type is the feet. 

Some authorities consider leather and wool prod¬ 
ucts the main sources of infection—athletic suits 
and garments of wool, and leather-handled or cov¬ 
ered athletic goods. Excess sweating often is as¬ 
sociated with it, perhaps as an important contribut¬ 
ing cause. The disease has followed vaccination in 
a good many cases, for additional infection is then 
especially likely. 

Ringworm in any form is very resistive to treat¬ 
ment. Whatever measures are employed, it will 
respond much more quickly and satisfactorily when 
the general health measures recommended in the 
next chapter are employed; for the health must be 
built up to the highest degree possible, all harmful 
and weakening habits must be avoided, and hygiene 
must be the best. Nothing is better than direct ex¬ 
posure to sunlight. Some authorities recommend 
daily barefoot walks of an hour or more in hot 
167 


SKIN TROUBLES 


beach sand, sinking the feet well into the sand. The 
hands may be treated in the same manner. But the 
position must be changed often enough that hot 
sand may be used. Rubbing well into the skin equal 
parts of vaseline and salt, then that night using 
very hot fomentations over the part, and repeating 
this for a few days is very good. Early in the dis¬ 
ease if the parts affected are bathed well with hot 
water and soap and then given an application of 
powdered sulphur in olive oil the trouble can be 
eradicated within a very few days. X-ray treatment 
is very efficacious in some cases. Cotton hose, un¬ 
derwear and gloves should be worn, and washed 
thoroughly every day. 

TINEA VERSICOLOR (PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR) 

This disease is due to a vegetable parasite. It 
and the following affection are allied to ringworm 
but are not genuine ringworm affections. In rare 
cases the neck, arm, armpit, and face may become 
involved, though it occurs chiefly upon the trunk, 
beginning as yellowish pinhead to pea-sized macules 
which are scattered about over the affected areas. 
Within a few weeks or months these increase in size 
and run together, producing large, irregularly 
shaped patches, with sharply defined edges. The 
color, usually fawn-hued, may vary from a pale 
yellow to brown, or may exhibit a distinctly pink 
tint. The area involved is covered with a fine 
mealy scale. If this is not apparent it will become 
noticeable upon scratching the surface with the 
finger nail. Itching, though usually present, is mild. 
The disease is confined almost solely to adults, is 
168 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


considered mildly contagious, runs a chronic course, 
and frequently lasts for years. 

TINEA FAVOSA 

This disease, perhaps better known as Favus, is 
a contagious disease of the skin due to a vegetable 
parasite, having its seat upon the scalp. Occasion¬ 
ally it attacks the non-hairy portions of the body 
(tinea favosa' epidermidis) ; and occasionally it at¬ 
tacks the nails (tinea favosa unguium; onychomy¬ 
cosis favosa), causing them to become thickened, 
brittle, yellow and opaque. 

This disease is a diffuse or confined superficial in¬ 
flammation around the hair follicles, with scaling, 
which soon is followed by the development of yel¬ 
lowish crusts about the size of pinheads. The crusts 
increase to the size of peas and then become cup- 
shaped. The typical favus cup or scutulum is about 
the size of a split pea, is rounded, of a sulphur- 
yellow color, and pierced by a hair. It crumbles 
between the fingers like dry mortar, and when re¬ 
moved from its seat in the skin reveals a shining, 
reddened, cup-shaped and atrophied excavation, 
which often is in a state of suppuration. The ex¬ 
cavation upon healing leaves a scar and results in 
more or less permanent baldness. The crusts may 
be scattered or they may run together, forming 
thick irregularly shaped patches resembling a honey¬ 
comb. Typical cases give off a peculiar odor re¬ 
sembling that of a mouse or of damp straw. The 
hairs lose their luster, become dry and brittle, and 
tend to split longitudinally or to break off or to fall 
out. Itching usually is present and varies in inten- 
169 


SKIN TROUBLES 


sity. The disease runs a chronic course, lasting 
years and sometimes for life. 

The hairs should be removed, and mild parasiti¬ 
cides used. 

SCABIES 

See Itch, this chapter. 

STINGS 

Usually stings produce only a local disturbance, 
accompanied by no constitutional symptoms. Bee, 
wasp and hornet stings may cause great swellings 
locally, and in some people produce nausea and 
other general symptoms, possibly much nervousness, 
even hysteria. Some spiders are poisonous, and 
stings by these and scorpions and centipedes may 
cause quite decided general symptoms. The nerv¬ 
ous system may be considerably depressed, and the 
heart action greatly altered. If the sting of a bee 
is left in the flesh, as frequently happens, it should 
be removed, by fine forceps or needle, using a mag¬ 
nifying glass if necessary. Any cold application 
made immediately may prevent swelling, but it 
would be better to use hot water as soon as possible, 
then cold in case swelling has resulted from the 
sting. Compresses of lemon juice, vinegar, or cam¬ 
phor may be used on any of these stings with bene¬ 
fit. Ammonia or strong solution of baking soda is 
very relieving. If there develop systemic disturb¬ 
ances, especially depression, considerable hot water 
should be taken by mouth. A tepid or mildly warm 
bath may be taken and remained in for an hour or 
more in some cases to advantage. Strong coffee is 
170 


SKIN DISEASES DUE TO PARASITES 


advised for the depression, and perhaps it would 
not be inadvisable. Usually, however, rest and 
simple local applications to reduce the inflammation 
or irritation and swelling will be all that is neces¬ 
sary. Poisoned wounds produced by spines of fish 
need merely local cleanliness; those of jellyfish, also. 
Oil of eucalyptus, cinnamon or cloves, applied to 
the skin, prevent attacks of biting insects. 

WOOD TICKS 

Ticks (ixodes) usually do not remain long upon 
the skin. They insert their proboscides into the 
skin to suck blood. The tick may remain there for 
several days, its body becoming distended to the 
size of a pea or bean or larger. Its removal is all 
that is required for a cure, though care must be 
made to extract the head when the body is removed. 
Usually applying turpentine or some pungent oil to 
his posterior extremity will cause him to loosen his 
hold. If the head remains it should be extracted by 
forceps. A mild antiseptic dressing may be applied 
if desired; but as the tick is not poisonous this is not 
necessary. 


171 


CHAPTER YI 


Natural Treatment of Skin Diseases 

LL forms of skin diseases are probably curable 



if proper measures are instituted before such 
extensive degenerative changes have occurred as to 
render regeneration impossible. By proper meas¬ 
ures I mean natural methods of living and treat¬ 
ment. I advise that these be resorted to at the 
start of the disease, and not used solely as a last 
resort after medical methods have failed. Many 
“incurable” cases of skin diseases and of many other 
diseases are the result of the use of drugs, serums, 
vaccines and surgery. As pointed out in previous 
chapters, many drugs cause skin diseases; and it is 
common medical practice to use some of these very 
drugs in treating skin diseases. Most diseases of 
the skin are self-limited or tend toward spontaneous 
recovery. Even many of those considered incurable 
frequently recover spontaneously. These facts in¬ 
dicate that were natural methods employed recov¬ 
eries would follow more frequently in the so-called 
incurable cases, and the self-limited would recover in 
much less time than when suppressed and compli¬ 
cated by drugs. The real work of cure is accom¬ 
plished by the body, and this is more likely to result 
if the body is purified and the constitutional strength 
built up to the highest standard. 

If the reader has carefully studied the foregoing 
pages he will understand that there are not so many 
individual disorders as seems to be the case and 


172 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


that the treatment of most of them, when looked at 
from the physical culture or nature cure standpoint, 
must be practically the same. Whether the disease 
be due to toxins, parasites, impaired nutrition or 
injury, or whether it is an eruption, a new growth, 
or some other form of disease, before health can 
be restored and the skin again become normal a few 
primary or fundamental objects must be achieved. 
These may be arranged as follows: 

1. The blood and lymph must be purified. 

2. The blood and lymph must be renewed and 
nutrition restored to normal. 

3. The nervous energies of the body must be 
greatly increased. 

4. The skin must be cleansed and kept clean. 

5. Local measures are to be used in many cases 
for hastening the removal of the affection and for 
restoring the skin to more nearly normal condition 
within a shorter period of time. 

When the first four of these requirements are 
met most skin diseases cease to be, and in a vast 
majority of skin troubles the cure speedily is brought 
about. With the addition of simple special or symp¬ 
tomatic treatments in some diseases a great many 
more of these affections quickly vanish. 

One who has a skin affection, at least one of many 
types, should consider himself more or less fortu¬ 
nate in one way: If it were not for the eliminative 
surface affection the causative toxins would affect 
some internal organ in a serious manner and to a 
serious degree. A skin disease does good in another 
way. The affection cannot be hidden; and, since it 
disturbs one’s equanimity and tends to create a hin- 
173 


SKIN TROUBLES 


dering self-consciousness, an earnest endeavor to 
correct the cause of it is very apt to be made. Un¬ 
less an internal disorder causes pain, or some other 
symptom is forcibly and frequently brought to the 
sufferer’s attention it is the common method to ig¬ 
nore it or to make only half-hearted attempts to¬ 
ward its correction. The unsightliness of pimples 
or scabs, or of a glaring nose or spot on the face, 
causes the unhappy victim to “get after” the trouble 
and to stay after it until it no longer offends, or at 
least to struggle toward its correction. 

To bring about the purification of the blood and 
lymph, it is necessary first to find and correct the 
causes of the pollution. If this be indigestion or 
constipation or gastrointestinal decomposition, or 
all of these, such conditions must be corrected. If it 
is due to the use of drugs and serums these must be 
abandoned. If faulty elimination is the cause, elim¬ 
ination must be improved. If wrong thinking— 
wrong mental processes—should be the cause at 
least in part, it will be necessary to make a change 
from destructive to constructive thinking. If the 
occupation of the individual leads to the skin affec¬ 
tion, through exposure to various kinds of “dirt,” 
to heat, cold, chemicals or other irritating factors, 
it will be necessary to change the occupation or make 
some alterations in it, or to take greater care in 
cleansing the skin and in maintaining the general 
health so as to render the irritating factors inca¬ 
pable or less capable of causing trouble. In short, 
every factor in the life of the individual that exerts 
a weakening and debasing effect upon the individual 
or that directly or indirectly weakens or otherwise 
174 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


harmfully affects the skin must be corrected. 

As with any other abnormal manifestation of the 
body or any of its organs, so long as the cause or 
causes of the disturbance be allowed to continue no 
appreciable or lasting results toward complete erad¬ 
ication of the trouble can be accomplished. One of 
the chief objections to the usual medical method of 
applying merely external chemicals to the skin 
lesions is that, since these chemicals may and often 
do cause sufficient suppression of the body’s elimina¬ 
tive effort to produce an appreciable lessening of the 
skin’s abnormal appearance, they lull the patient 
into the belief that no other procedure is necessary 
—that the manner of living that caused the troubles 
can be ignored. Let me cite one case to illustrate 
the effect of this. 

In one of my sanitariums appeared a patient with 
a very unsightly rash over the face, which had been 
diagnosed as pustular eczema. The woman had 
come for treatment solely for the skin condition. 
However, it was found that her kidneys were func¬ 
tioning much below normal, with intermittent al¬ 
buminuria and high degree of indicanuria, and some 
blood and pus cells in the urine; the liver was func¬ 
tioning below normal, as shown by the condition of 
the stools; and the blood pressure was 50 points 
above normal. Her age was 60, but until six weeks 
or so before she was admitted into the sanitarium 
her health had seemed to be fairly good. She had 
been doctoring with a medical physician who used 
external applications and who insisted that his 
patient required more nourishing food than she had 
been taking. In spite of her attempts to eat more 
175 


SKIN TROUBLES 


and oftener, her weight rapidly dropped and her 
energies were greatly lessened. 

After a complete examination it was explained to 
this patient that her body needed the skin trouble 
to help out the weakened kidneys and body in gen¬ 
eral, but that the right kind of eliminative treatment 
would permit the kidneys to take care of their duties 
normally or practically so, thus reducing the need 
for abnormal skin elimination. She and her daugh¬ 
ters appreciated the logic of my claims, and readily 
agreed to a fast for the patient. After fasting but 
four days the skin showed a marked change for the 
better, and the kidneys were functioning better, the 
energies seemed increased, and the sleep was more 
refreshing. 

But the husband disapproved of the fasting, and 
had told the doctor formerly on the case that we 
were “starving” his wife. The morning after the 
fourth day of fasting the doctor and the patient’s 
husband came to the sanitarium for the patient. 
Two of the four daughters came, also. They and 
their mother begged that she might remain, but 
against their pleadings and my warnings she was 
taken to a hospital. I warned them (not in the pa¬ 
tient’s presence) that the patient would be dead 
within six weeks if they started using external ap¬ 
plications again and failed to carry out a strict elim¬ 
inative diet and general program. Twenty-four 
days later I was called to the home of this family. 
The patient had been taken home from the hospital, 
the doctor telling them there was nothing more that 
he could do for her! She was in a pitiable but re¬ 
pulsive condition, with her face, throat, chest, shoul- 
176 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


ders and back covered with large patches of angry, 
pus-yielding sores; and I was informed that her 
kidneys were eliminating almost pure albumin. 
Needless to say, the patient then was beyond human 
aid. She died within 48 hours. In spite of the ap¬ 
plications which had been kept on the skin lesions 
the body simply had to have this avenue for elimina¬ 
tion; but the amount of poisons to be eliminated, 
created by the forced feeding—“to build up her 
resistance!”—were even more than this organ could 
take care of. There is no way of proving my con¬ 
tention, of course, but I always have felt certain 
that this patient would have lived many years longer 
if she could have gotten her body cleansed inside— 
the internal pollution being the cause of her trouble. 

Therefore, I say again that unless the cause or 
causes of skin diseases be removed the troubles will 
remain in some form, or some other organ of the 
body will be made to suffer, probably disastrously. 
There comes a time in the course of disease when 
the healing forces of Nature no longer can make 
any appreciable effort toward life preservation; but 
until that time comes no manner of suppressive or 
compromising treatment will keep these forces down 
to such a degree that some symptoms of “disease” 
will not make their appearance. And if the tend¬ 
ency is toward skin “disease,” through the body’s 
efforts to purify the body and bring about some de¬ 
gree of internal normalcy, the skin will possess some 
abnormal manifestations which, nevertheless, will 
be perfectly natural under the circumstances. 

Throughout all my writings, and especially in my 
various books on health, I have so emphasized the 
177 


SKIN TROUBLES 


value of the fast as a purifying agent that all who 
are acquainted with these writings must be familiar 
with this method of treatment. Usually, however, 
victims of any particular disorder desire to know 
about the special application of any healing factor 
to their disorder. I cannot give here a regimen 
that will be perfectly suitable for every case of skin 
disease, because, as with any other manifestation of 
disease, the individual must be taken into considera¬ 
tion with his various peculiarities, including his re¬ 
sponse to any treatment factor. The individual 
himself will need to adjust the treatment to his own 
requirements—unless fortunate enough to be in the 
care of a nature cure physician or sanitarium. If 
the theory of the fast is understood this adjustment 
is an easy matter. 

Without doubt the fast is the greatest single fac¬ 
tor of body cleansing that we possess or ever can 
devise. To me, it is the most reasonable assump¬ 
tion that when the body no longer is required to 
expand its energies in taking care of food it can 
exert these energies toward purification of its blood 
stream, its lymph stream, its organs, and its count¬ 
less cells. Not only this, but when it no longer must 
combat the toxins developing from unrequired food 
in the alimentary tract, those absorbed from this 
tract, and those developing in the abnormally func¬ 
tioning organs and cells, and cells of the body and 
all its organs and nerves can function in a more 
nearly normal manner, since they are not depressed 
by the energy-sapping poisons. Furthermore, when 
the blood no longer is saturated with food elements 
constantly and regularly supplied, it is free to take 
178 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


into itself toxins and abnormal products that have 
been deposited in organs, tissues and cells and get 
rid of these through the eliminative organs, thus 
quickly reducing the encumbrance that is general 
but, usually, especially prominent in certain tissues. 
These effects of the fast cannot be denied; and if 
they are secured it readily can be seen that any ab¬ 
normal manifestation of the body or of any organ 
of the body must, of necessity, be greatly reduced. 

The actual procedure of the fast is not compli¬ 
cated. All that is required is to abstain from food. 
This abstinence from food may be complete or par¬ 
tial; but by the fast, unqualified by any other term, 
I always have meant the taking of nothing but 
water. Many times I have prescribed a “fruit fast” 
or a “fruit-juice fast,” the terms being self-explana¬ 
tory. And often I have had reason to believe that 
the latter fasts were as beneficial for the cases where 
they seemingly were more applicable than the com¬ 
plete fast as was the complete fast where this seemed 
to be required. Much depends upon the need for 
rapid elimination or the less urgent need for rapid 
elimination as to whether the complete or the partial 
fast is to be adopted. Also, the patient’s weight 
and energy govern to a considerable extent the type 
of fast. Quite evidently the thin and debilitated or 
the nervously exhausted individual cannot endure 
easily a total fast as can most individuals who are 
normal or above normal in weight and whose en¬ 
ergies seem to be little impaired. 

However, the duration of the fast is an important 
consideration, and usually is in fairly direct ratio to 
the patient’s weight, strength and energy. Appar- 
179 


SKIN TROUBLES 


ently the less vigorous persons derive as much bene¬ 
fit from short fasts as the stronger individuals 
derive from the longer fasts. Quite often, though, 
one finds one’s strength and energies improving on 
the fast, even though the weight is reducing. And 
not infrequently an individual who is overweight 
finds his energies and strength being quickly sapped 
even on short fasts. How much of these effects may 
be due to the mental attitude toward the fast is im¬ 
possible to determine, though it is certain that if 
one fears the fast or takes it under protest he will 
derive less benefit from this procedure than if its 
curative value is appreciated and it is entered into 
with the full determination to secure all possible 
benefit that may be derived from it. 

The individual who can take a fairly protracted 
(“finish”) complete fast should avail himself of 
this most desirable form of treatment. The next 
most desirable fasting treatment is the complete fast 
of shorter duration. The fruit-juice fast is the next 
most eliminative; and for the fearing individual or 
the very thin and debilitated individual this may be 
the best treatment when the fast is to be conducted 
without supervision. The fruit fast, during which 
the pulp of various fruits may be taken, is excellent 
but rarely is necessary, the fruit-juice fast usually 
answering the purpose admirably. 

No preparation is required for the fast, contrary 
to the belief of many. If one’s finger is in the fire it 
does not have to be withdrawn by degrees. So, if 
one’s body is burdened with toxins and if these are 
being added in considerable amounts by eating, it 
does no harm to stop this poisoning suddenly. In 
180 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


place of the “next meal” merely take the juice of an 
orange. One then is launched upon his fast. For 
the first day or two the juice of an orange may be 
taken at each meal time or, better perhaps, an 
orange at each meal time and one between each two 
meals, making six a day. Or two oranges may be 
taken at mealtimes, none between meals. This may 
be called “preparation” for the complete fast; but, 
as the fruit juice usually is laxative and at the same 
time energizing, also as it contains neutralizing min¬ 
eral elements, it has a definite benefit at the begin¬ 
ning of the fast. 

After this first or second day on fruit juice, 
nothing but water should be taken. This may be 
hot or cold, according to preference. Thin and 
“cold-blooded” people prefer hot water usually; and 
many others prefer it during cold-weather fasts. 
The amount should not be governed solely by desire, 
for it often happens that the desire is greatly dimin¬ 
ished, even nil, during the fast. Water is necessary 
in order to dilute the toxins, keep the blood normally 
thin, and dissolve toxins and deposits that have ac¬ 
cumulated here and there. It also dilutes the urine, 
thus making it less irritating to the kidney structures 
through which it passes. And it may have some¬ 
what of a laxative effect. The quantity should be 
at least three pints daily; and it is a good plan to 
take a glass of water each time one hears the clock 
strike—arranging to hear it every hour; otherwise, 
an attempt should be made to take a glass of water 
practically every hour, or ten to twelve glasses daily. 
If the water has a peculiar and undesirable taste, as 
it often has during the fast, a few drops of lemon 
181 


SKIN TROUBLES 


juice may be added to it; however, if one drinks the 
water down without waiting to taste it by sipping, 
it usually will be found very easy to take the needed 
amounts. 

This complete fast should be taken “from day to 
day” only, no attempt being made to fast for a cer¬ 
tain number of days or to break some one’s fasting 
record. So long as the energies remain good and 
there are no unpleasant symptoms, the fast should 
be continued. For the first 72 hours or so there is 
apt to be a noticeable “hunger,” so called; but this 
is merely a habit hunger, as is proven by the fact 
that after this time the desire for food usually leaves 
entirely until the body again is in actual need of food 
or can take care of it normally. There may be a 
slight palpitation of the heart, and slight giddiness 
upon rising to a sitting or standing position after 
reclining or sitting, also some floating specks may 
appear before the eyes during the fast. These may 
be ignored, though care shoud be taken not to in¬ 
tensify the palpitation by worry or unnecessary or 
strenuous activity; and one may need to avoid rapid 
rising to standing position lest the giddiness pre¬ 
cipitate a fall. 

Among the indications calling for breaking the 
fast are: return of a normal appetite that craves 
some simple natural food; “watering” of the mouth; 
frequent, constant or disturbing palpitation; marked 
or constant giddiness; progressive weakness; in¬ 
somnia (not the mere reduction of sleeping hours) ; 
nervousness or irritability uncalmed by relaxation; 
decided blurring of the vision not relieved by light 
physical activity; headache that persists; progres- 
182 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


sive chilliness; drop in weight or blood pressure to 
below normal, except weight reduction without any 
other untoward symptoms; clearing of the tongue 
(though it often is inadvisable to await this change). 
Many advise fat people to take the complete “fin¬ 
ish” fast—fasting until a normal appetite is pro¬ 
duced, probably until the weight is practically 
normal or approaches normal. These people may 
need a fast, but they need to be more careful than 
others not to develop a true acidosis from lack of 
all carbohydrate foods. Hence for these it often is 
advisable to take a few oranges daily, or some other 
fruit or its juice, or concentrated simple vegetable 
broths. The symptoms of acidosis are: deeper and 
more rapid breathing or labored or sighing respira¬ 
tion (“air hunger”), nausea, vomiting in severe de¬ 
gree (probably brought on by mere attempts to 
swallow), sweetish, fruity odor of the breath, head¬ 
ache, drowsiness or apathy or restlessness, anxious 
expression except during apathy, rapid and weak 
pulse. These symptoms of “acid intoxication” will 
not develop during a properly conducted fast. 

It cannot be said offhand that a certain type of 
fast should be used in all cases of any one type of 
dermatosis. But ordinarily, I believe, it might be 
said that the complete fast, continued until marked 
improvement of symptoms is secured, would be bet¬ 
ter than any dietetic compromise in the following 
skin affections: abscesses, except tuberculous; an¬ 
thrax; boils; carbuncles; dermatitis, epidemic and 
drug-produced forms; ecthyma; erysipelas; erysipe¬ 
loid; farcy; fever blisters; florid complexions; 
herpes; hives; impetigo; jaundice; keratosis (con- 
183 


SKIN TROUBLES 


tagious form) ; lichen; pemphigus; pompholyx; pus¬ 
tules, malignant and post-mortem; sycosis (acute 
and subacute) ; syphilitic lesions; vaccination derma¬ 
tosis; whitlow. 

On account of their chronic nature some skin dis¬ 
eases prevent fasting for a sufficient length of time 
to change greatly their manifestations; but since 
their cause is toxic in nature, and because of the 
nature of the skin lesions (perhaps pustules), the 
benefits of the fast are needed. In these diseases 
the better plan usually would be to take complete 
fasts of short or moderate length, or somewhat 
longer fruit-juice fasts (preferably the former), and 
repeat the fast every four, six or eight weeks until a 
cure or great improvement has been secured. 
Among the diseases I have found to be, and those 
I believe to be best treated by such a fasting regi¬ 
men are: acne, except perhaps malnutrition (scrof¬ 
ulous) acne; angioneurotic edema; some complex¬ 
ion faults; dermatitis; eczema; elephantiasis; epi¬ 
thelioma; erythema; fibroma; fungoid tumor; hard 
skin; leprosy; pityriasis; prurigo; psoriasis; pur¬ 
pura; sarcoma; some cases of syphilitic lesions, and 
of itch; liver spots (chloasma of internal origin); 
lymph-vessel tumors; nerve tumors; new growths; 
also, perhaps, some cases of acrodynia, frostbite, 
gangrene, hypertrophies, lupus, pellagra, and sy¬ 
cosis. 

In most of the other skin diseases not mentioned 
in the two groups above the fast will be of benefit 
only indirectly; that is, it is not specifically indicated 
in them. A considerable reduction in the total 
quantity of foods, or a modification of the diet to 
184 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


include an abundance of the alkalinizing, neutraliz¬ 
ing and genuinely nourishing foods, especially fruits 
and green vegetables, or in some cases even more 
ample nutrition will be the dietetic requirement. 

We have found, then, that the fast is the most 
rapid method of bringing about purification of the 
blood and lymph and the body cells, when the condi¬ 
tion permits of the fast. It must not be understood, 
however, that during the fast is the only time during 
treatment, or the only means by which, purification 
is accomplished. The proper diet following the 
fast, or the proper diet when the fast is not em¬ 
ployed, should accomplish this by a constant though 
less rapid alkalinization and elimination. But since 
the blood and lymph and nervous energy must be 
restored or built up toward normal, and since food 
is one of the chief means of bringing this about, the 
diets other than the fast will be included with the 
restorative measures, soon to be given. I shall first 
give the other eliminative measures that may be em¬ 
ployed, either during the fasts or at other times. 

Inasmuch as the fast must be regulated, in large 
measure at least, according to the strength, energy 
and vitality of the patient, there is not apt to be 
sufficient weakening from this procedure as to pre¬ 
clude other means of elimination. However, the 
fast will accomplish much without “assistance,” and 
those who desire to conserve their energies for the 
fast by avoiding other eliminative means may do so, 
though I do not advise it for the majority of cases. 

Those eliminative measures other than the fast 
are not to be limited to those cases where fasting is 
employed nor to the fasting periods. They are to 
185 


SKIN TROUBLES 


be employed in practically all cases, and after or 
between fasts. They are, in fact, more important 
in those cases where fasting is not used, since when 
this most rapid eliminative measure is not used 
others to take its place somewhat are desirable, 
often necessary. In any case they may be said to be 
general health measures, and for this reason at 
least some of them should form definite parts of 
the treatment. 

We have become so much a constipated race that 
almost all ailing people require some means of 
bringing about intestinal cleansing other than rely¬ 
ing solely upon natural actions or, rather, sponta¬ 
neous actions, for if the bowel actions were normal 
no assistance would be necessary—and few illnesses 
ever would “invade” our bodies. Countless drugs 
have been used in the past and many others still are 
employed to whip up the bowels to greater elimina¬ 
tive efforts; but these are harmful, and especially so 
when on a fast or corrective treatment. Hence we 
must rely upon some safe procedure. The enema 
has been found the ideal eliminant during the fast, 
also at other times when needed. This consists 
merely of injecting water into the rectum by means 
of a fountain or other suitable syringe, the quantity 
and temperature being governed by the needs. Usu¬ 
ally one quart is sufficient in an ordinary enema, 
though one pint often is satisfactory; and many 
times one finds it difficult to retain more than one 
pint, which, however, is not fully effective, in which 
case the pint enema' may be repeated one or more 
times. The best temperature is tepid, though often 
it is advisable to start with moderately warm water 
186 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


and at succeeding injections reduce the temperature 
a couple of degrees until fairly cold or fully cold 
water is used. This is an excellent means of natu¬ 
rally and safely stimulating and toning the rectal 
muscles and nerves and circulation, and also those 
of the entire large bowel (colon). 

The high enema is a more advanced form of 
enema. For quick results in clearing the colon 
nothing equals the high enema. This is adminis¬ 
tered by means of an ordinary fountain syringe bag 
and its flexible tubing, to which is attached a slightly 
stiffer (but still flexible) and slightly larger rubber 
tube, usually called a “colon tube.” With water at 
the desired temperature and preferably with the 
patient in the knee-chest position, the colon tube is 
taken from a can or cup of oil, the stopcock is re¬ 
leased until the water appears at the end of the tube 
when the stopcock is again closed, and the tip of 
the tube then gently inserted into the rectum. After 
insertion for a few inches it is advisable to release 
the stopcock slightly so that water will gently flow 
into the bowel. This water tends to clear the way 
ahead of the tube so that it may be inserted easily 
and not fold up on itself. The tube should be in¬ 
serted at least 12 inches, preferably 18 inches or 
more. Two quarts of water is the least that should 
be taken in this manner, and three or four quarts 
usually can be taken easily. It may be necessary 
with this high enema, also with the low enema, to 
close the tubing occasionally to allow the already 
injected water to disperse. This is necessary usually 
only when the injection is too rapid or at other 
times when it produces pain. Slowly injected, it 
187 


SKIN TROUBLES 


should cause no trouble. A five-minute period is 
sufficiently long to retain the water of the high 
enema or of the ordinary enema, and usually three 
minutes is sufficient. 

During a fast of five days or so some form of 
enema should be taken each day; and if the patient 
is very toxic the enema should be taken twice a day 
for the first two days. If the high enema is taken, 
once a day will be sufficient if this one is effective. 
After five days, if the fast is continued beyond this 
time, every second day will be often enough for 
either enema; but if the fast continues longer than 
eight or ten days the enema may be dispensed with 
after the eighth or tenth day, or taken every third 
day to the end of the fast. 

The skin is “diseased” either because it is em¬ 
ployed by the body as a necessary avenue of elimina¬ 
tion, or because it cannot be used normally as such 
an avenue—as in the case of dry skin, fishskin dis¬ 
ease, etc. It may be aided in its work of extra 
elimination, or it may be somewhat softened or 
toned up and made a better organ of protection and 
possibly of elimination, by proper baths. Elimina¬ 
tion is not increased in quantity or degree as much 
by any bath as by exercise, but in some instances 
some eliminative bath is to be preferred to exercise. 
The type of bath will depend chiefly upon the pa¬ 
tient’s preference, his vitality, and his skin condi¬ 
tion. 

The warm tub bath is one of the best baths. If 
one has plenty of weight and vitality, the hot bath 
may be used; but in comparatively few cases can 
this bath be continued sufficiently long to accom- 
188 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


plish much good. And short hot baths are more 
apt to defeat their purpose, for they cause a pro¬ 
tective contraction of the skin. It is true that the 
reaction will produce skin relaxation sufficient to 
allow slightly above normal skin activity to take 
place; but this still will be insufficient to accomplish 
what is desired. Hence the daily warm bath, con¬ 
tinued for an hour in most cases or, preferably, 30 
minutes twice daily will be the preferred bath. 

A temperature of about 96 to 98 degrees is com¬ 
fortable. A glass of hot water should be taken 
immediately before or upon entering the bath and 
every ten or fifteen minutes of the bath. This, with 
the constant temperature of the bath, will produce 
an active perspiration, which is what is desired. 
And the perspiration produced by such means 
(chiefly by the hot-water drinking, but especially by 
the combination) is created by the pronounced in¬ 
crease in circulation and cell activity, and will 
approach in benefit that created by exercise. An ex¬ 
cellent means of maintaining an equal temperature 
of the water is placing jugs or large bottles contain¬ 
ing boiling water in the bath water, thus making 
unnecessary the frequent draining out of part of the 
water and running hot water into the bath where an 
abundance is not available. 

The bath should be terminated by a cool bath, 
either by allowing cold water quickly to enter the 
tub until the temperature of the bath water is cool 
or by a cool spray or splash to the body. However, 
if one is to retire immediately after the bath the 
cool bath may be omitted. Good friction should 
complete the entire bath, care being taken to avoid 
189 


SKIN TROUBLES 


injuring the areas that may be affected with irritated 
or inflamed eruptions. 

It is customary in medical practice to caution 
eczema patients against bathing the affected areas 
of skin. In my experience I have found that benefit 
is derived from such a bath as I have described. 
Perhaps even better results are secured by adding 
alkalines to the bath water. If sea water can be 
obtained conveniently for the bath water it is ideal. 
But a very excellent alkaline bath may be produced 
by adding one pound of sal soda (washing soda) to 
30 gallons of bath water—or one ounce of the soda 
to each two gallons of water used. Or any of the 
following salts or salt mixtures may be employed, 
the total amount of salts to be added to 30 gallons 
of water: eight pounds of dry sea salts; six to eight 
pounds of ordinary table salt; one-half pound of 
Epsom salts; one pound of chloride of calcium (not 
chloride of lime) ; or seven pounds of common table 
salt, one pound of magnesium chloride, and one-half 
pound of Epsom salts. 

These general baths, with or without the alka¬ 
lines, are apt to be decidedly (but usually tempora¬ 
rily) weakening, especially those containing Epsom 
salts. For this reason they may need to be avoided 
by some people during fasts of any duration, and 
usually should not be taken by anyone after the third 
or fourth day of the fast. In any case, one bath a 
day when any of the alkalines are used, will be suf¬ 
ficient, even when on full nourishment. It usually is 
much better when relaxation for a period of at least 
30 minutes can follow an alkaline bath. 

It may be mentioned here that any of the alkaline 
190 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


solutions will be excellent to use with compresses 
for local applications. Individual cases will respond 
differently to the different solutions, and it may be 
found that one will agree better than another, 
though in some cases none will be serviceable. 

It should be needless to say that fresh air is of 
great importance. The blood must have oxygen in 
abundance for itself and the body cells to burn up 
toxins and waste material. One should insure a 
supply of fresh air every minute of the day. If 
confined within doors the ventilation of the home or 
office or shop must be sufficient to provide a constant 
supply of fresh air and an exhaust of foul air. 
Open-air activity is one of the most beneficial means 
of obtaining the required oxygen and under the most 
favorable conditions. Sleeping rooms must be fully 
ventilated, though this does not mean that it is 
necessary to sleep cold or in a draft. If one is in¬ 
doors most of the time there should be provided 
some means of moistening the air in winter, such 
as by pans or special humidifiers placed on or at¬ 
tached to the radiators. The lungs and the skin 
function much better in a slightly moist atmosphere 
than in a super-dried atmosphere. 

Exercise is one of the most valuable means we 
have for purifying the blood and for preventing 
a harmful degree of toxemia. It is true that over¬ 
exercise, whether in a single “dose” or regularly, 
may add to toxemia by its effect of breaking down 
old cells and of producing numerous by-products of 
accelerated cell activity. But it is equally true, and 
of greater importance since far more people under¬ 
exercise than overexercise, that without exercise no 
191 


SKIN TROUBLES 


human body can be free from toxic poisoning in some 
degree; and if the diet and general mode of living 
in other respects are those of the average individual 
the degree of toxic poisoning will be considerable. 

If one’s general condition will permit, daily exer¬ 
cise to the point of perspiration would aid tremen¬ 
dously in correcting practically any toxic skin dis¬ 
ease. This degree of exercise is impossible for 
many people, and for most people during the cool 
and cold months; and, fortunately, it is not entirely 
necessary. But there should be some exercise once 
or twice daily, the amount and resistance to depend 
upon the individual’s condition and requirements. 
The exercises should make necessary somewhat 
deeper breathing and faster heart action, for only 
exercise that has such physical effects will have any 
appreciable physiological effect. Exercise in this 
degree will produce some helpful degree of added 
skin activity, also, which is highly desirable, in fact 
necessary. 

The exercises to select are numerous. No partic¬ 
ular movements will have a direct effect upon the 
skin affections, except in case of pimples or other 
facial blemishes; hence, those selected must have a 
desirable general effect. It is much better when 
every muscle in the body is employed in the day’s 
exercises, part in the morning and the remainder in 
the evening, though every muscle may be exercised 
in the same period. But exercises for the smaller 
muscles may be omitted if one’s time is limited or 
the energy lacking or maximum effect is desired 
within the shortest period of time, and effort con¬ 
centrated upon the larger muscles that have a pro- 
192 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


nounced general physiological effect—those of the 
trunk and thighs especially. Various trunk move¬ 
ments and thigh exercises, the latter as by squatting 
and rising, will be more quickly beneficial. Walk¬ 
ing always is one of the most valuable of exercises, 
for its variety of effects and because it usually is 
done in an abundance of fresh air and sunlight. 

Exercises that cause a temporary concentration 
of blood in the skin of the face will hasten cure of 
facial blemishes, by bringing larger quantities of 
blood to the skin and carrying away the products 
of the increased local cell activity—serving in this 
way as a local “blood bath” to the skin. These are 
the movements that have been illustrated in this 
book. But even when these are taken for their local 
effect, others of general benefit should be taken 
regularly, also. Whatever exercises are selected, 
perform them daily, and put enough vigor into them 
to make a noticeable effect upon the body’s functions. 

Aside from the factors suggested for purification 
of the blood and lymph streams, rest and relaxation 
often are highly important. Many people keep 
their bodies more or less toxin-saturated by main¬ 
taining a constant or frequent fatigue, brought 
about by excessive physical or mental activity. They 
may not be aware of the fatigue because of some 
degree of mental or nervous excitement that keeps 
them buoyed up; or they may be conscious of a 
marked fatigue, but believe it necessary to “carry 
on” in work or pleasures or so-called duties. Many 
are emotionally exalted or depressed to a consider¬ 
able degree and more or less constantly. Any of 
these states will be sufficient to produce or main- 
193 


SKIN TROUBLES 


tain a state of toxemia which will retard a cure of 
toxic skin affections. Therefore, rest and relaxa¬ 
tion, of the mind and nerves (and of the sexual 
functions) as well as of the muscular system, should 
be secured when attempting a cure of any abnormal 
condition of the body. And especially is emotional 
composure important. Anger, worry, fear, envy, 
jealousy, etc., must be avoided or a pure blood 
stream cannot be secured or maintained. 

Building up the blood and lymph and nutrition 
is the next step toward a cure of skin diseases. This 
must be done not only by better feeding, but by 
proper attention to all of the many factors that 
affect the nutritive processes. The diet following a 
fast or between repeated fasts will be as important 
as will the fast, perhaps more so, especially where 
only short fasts are taken, as in chronic affections. 
And when the fast is not employed the diet will be 
the chief means by which a cure will be established. 
He who expects a cure without having to modify 
his diet in some degree is doomed to disappointment. 

I have advised the milk diet in countless cases 
following fasts and in many cases of skin diseases, 
and this is the best blood-building diet, that can be 
devised. It provides every element required for 
body nourishment; contains the necessary mineral 
elements and vitamins; is easily digested; increases 
the quality of the blood and gives it an abundance 
of fluid for absorbing deposited waste matter; in¬ 
creases the functions of every organ and gland of 
the body, including the skin and its glands; through 
the greater activity of the pores which it creates 
toxic material is eliminated; and it causes increased 
194 



Standing easily, breathe slowly and deeply in and out 
through the puckered lips that restrict the breaths. Also 
close one nostril with a finger tip and breathe similarly 
through the open nostril, then reverse. Breathe deeply 
but not strainingly. 

195 








Stand free from tension. Take a full breath to elevate the 
chest, and hold the breath for four or five seconds while 
rapidly tapping the chest all over alternately with the 
palms. Relax, breathe normally a few seconds, then repeat 
once or twice. 

196 







Stand erect, hands down. Upon starting to inhale, bring 
arms up and clasp hands behind head. Continue the breath 
while elevating the chest, and resist with the hands while 
bending the head well back, tensing the spinal muscles. 

Relax while exhaling, and repeat. 

197 








Standing as shown, tense all the trunk muscles. Now move 
the trunk, from the hips upward, in a rapid vibratory move¬ 
ment forward and backward over only an inch or two. Con¬ 
tinue for only four or five seconds and relax fully before 
repeating once. 

198 






Stand erect, arms down at sides. Slowly inhale and raise 
arms outward. Upon exhaling bend forward, then rotate 
to position shown, inhaling upon the turn. Slowly exhale 
and inhale upon reversing the turn, then come to erect, 
arms down. Exhale, then inhale and repeat. 









200 


Stand erect, hands on hips. Lunge easily far forward with left foot, inhaling and keeping the 
trunk erect. Bend trunk forward, reaching left hand as far beyond left foot as possible, ex¬ 
haling. Recover second position, then erect position. Alternate left and right. 









Standing erect, clasp hands over center of abdomen. While 
taking a deep breath bend forward, holding hands firmly 
against the abdomen, drawing upward. Enlarge chest fully. 
Then “pump” abdomen in and out against hand resistance. 
Come to erect, relax, and repeat. 

201 





Start at position shown, then hop on the right foot, descend¬ 
ing on the left, and repeat, alternating arm positions with 
good swings. The arm goes backward as the correspond¬ 
ing knee is raised. This “stationary run” or “running in 
place” is excellent for the circulation. 

202 





Clasping hands under thighs as shown, tense back, abdomen 
and arms and try to lift tne body. Also grasp ankles with 
hands, forearms outside of legs, then hop up and down. 
Repeat the first movement several times before taking 

the second. 

203 





Squat with trunk erect, palms on knees. Begin a deep 
breath while bending forward, at same time carrying arms 
out, back and upward until forehead touches floor. Exhale 
fully but keep chest high while returning to erect position. 

Breathe normally, then repeat. 

204 









205 


Take position shown, feet on chair, couch or bed. If arms are not strong, lower hips to floor, 
elevate to starting position, and repeat. If arms are strong enough, bend elbows until chest 

touches floor, push upward and repeat, and take first exercise also. 


















Rest the hips and lower abdomen comfortably on stool or 
pillowed chair, heels under some suitably heavy piece of 
furniture. Starting with trunk relaxed downward, raise 
trunk to position shown but with head facing front. Lower 
trunk, relax and repeat. 

206 









Lying on back, bend knees and bring over body. In this 
position perform the bicycle-riding movement, slowly at 
first, then gradually faster. Also raise and lower legs 
without quite touching floor. Also extend legs back over 
head, touching toes to floor. 

207 









Lying on back, hands clasping bed rail or other suitably 
heavy or well-braced piece of furniture. Bend knees 
slightly and raise over abdomen, then “shoot” legs upward 
as shown. Curl back while lowering, legs still over body, 
then repeat. Lower to floor, relax. 

208 





209 


Lying flat on floor, hands under head. Take a deep breath and tense all muscles of back of 
body, and elevate hips as shown. Lower slowly, and repeat after relaxing. The hands may 

be at sides, also. Raise hips high each time. 







1 


210 


Lying flat on back, arms alongside body. While taking a slow deep breath raise arms upward 
and downward to position shown. Try to take in more air while stretching arms and legs to 
the limit. Exhale, lowering arms. Breathe normally, then repeat. 






NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


frequency of urination of a well-diluted urine, thus 
relieving the kidneys of irritation and at the same 
time carrying out, within each 24 hours, a large 
amount of toxins the blood has been able to extract 
or absorb from the internal body. But there is so 
much to the subject of the milk diet that I have 
written a book upon the subject alone (“The Mir¬ 
acle of Milk”)—and, also, one on the fast alone 
(“Fasting for Health”). If one desires to take 
the milk diet it would be well to be thoroughly in¬ 
formed upon the subject, in order that the diet may 
be followed properly for best results. 

The skin diseases for which the milk diet, follow¬ 
ing the fast, would be the most desirable diet are: 
acne, angioneurotic edema; anthrax; boils; carbun¬ 
cles; chilblains and frostbite; complexion faults ex¬ 
cept, perhaps some cases of florid complexion; der¬ 
matitis; ecthyma; erysipelas; erythema impetigo; 
leprosy; pustules, malignant and post-mortem; vac¬ 
cination dermatosis. 

Many of the skin diseases, as stated, do not call 
for the fast. Yet some of these would be improved 
more rapidly by a milk diet than by a solid food 
diet. In such cases there should be at least one or 
two days of no solid food prior to beginning the 
milk diet—orange juice being the preferred pre¬ 
paratory diet. These diseases are: atrophies of the 
skin; chapped skin; dry skin; fishskin disease; kera¬ 
tosis; leprosy (some cases) ; lupus; pellagra; sclero¬ 
derma; scrum pox; scrofuloderma; tuberculosis of 
the skin; wrinkles. 

The milk diet will not aggravate any abnormality, 
of the skin or elsewhere, except occasionally a 
211 


SKIN TROUBLES 


catarrhal condition—though it must be understood 
that by the “milk diet” is not meant a hard-and-fast 
regimen from which there is no deviation; to be 
properly taken and of benefit it must be adjusted in 
amount, kind of milk, manner of drinking, etc., to 
the individual condition. This is true of any treat¬ 
ment program. There are some skin diseases that 
best respond to a properly selected solid food diet. 
Among these diseases are: eczema; elephantiasis; 
epithelioma; fibroma; lymphangioma; psoriasis; and 
sarcoma. It must be understood, however, that if 
the underlying condition or the predominating gen¬ 
eral condition or the specific disease of the “skin 
patient” calls for any certain form of treatment, 
dietetic or otherwise, this condition must receive 
first consideration, the skin condition being ignored 
—except, perhaps, for any local treatment that 
might be indicated or beneficial and not an inter¬ 
ference with the general treatment. In any of the 
diseases mentioned in the group immediately above, 
the milk diet might be prescribed without any harm 
whatever if the patient’s chief trouble called for 
such a diet. The whole problem is one of individu¬ 
alization of treatment, regardless of what treatment 
factors are employed. 

After the milk diet, or when for some reason the 
milk diet is not possible or desirable, to build up 
the blood and lymph the foods that are absolutely 
necessary are those that are rich in alkaline mineral 
elements and vitamins, while the acid-forming foods 
should be consumed in considerable moderation. 
The diet should consist largely of fresh fruits and 
vegetables, chiefly raw, with but moderate quantities 
212 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. When the 
normal alkalinity of the blood and other body fluids 
is restored a great step has been taken in the cure 
of any disease. 

Among the alkaline foods are all fruits, vege¬ 
tables, melons and milk, that have not been proc¬ 
essed, “refined,” or denatured, or spoiled by poor 
cooking or overcooking. However, potatoes and 
sweet potatoes, dried beans, peas, lentils, bananas, 
figs and dates are inclined to be acid-forming, es¬ 
pecially when eaten in any considerable quantities. 
Meat, eggs, fish, fowl, and cheese also are acid¬ 
forming, and should be eaten moderately. 

For fear that some will still wonder what foods to 
use, the following kinds should greatly predominate 
in the diet: Fruits—oranges, grapefruits, apples, 
peaches, pears, grapes, prunes, apricots, plums, 
cherries, and all berries; vegetables—lettuce, spin¬ 
ach, asparagus, young alfalfa, tomatoes, celery, car¬ 
rots, onions old and young, cauliflower, kale, green 
Leans, young peas in pod, green corn, watercress, 
C4cumbers, green peppers, dandelions, parsley, tur- 
nps, parsnips, kohl-rabi, eggplant, mushrooms, 
squash, pumpkin, oyster plant, leek. Dried or 
evaporated and canned foods may be used when it 
is impossible to secure the fresh foods, but one 
should not rely solely upon them. 

Since one should use the entire grain of cereals 
when cereals are employed in the diet, considerable 
starch and protein are obtained from a liberal use 
of these foods. Hence, in spite of the fact that the 
outer hulls and dark layers of grains are among our 
valuable blood-purifying and blood-alkalinizing 
213 


SKIN TROUBLES 


foods, the quantity of cereal foods should be kept 
below the amount usually consumed, in order to 
avoid an excess of the acid-producing elements. The 
starch and protein of the cereals often are in such 
abundance that they are not neutralized by the al¬ 
kaline elements of the outer surfaces. 

Many people secure excellent results by using an 
exclusive fruit diet—using citrous fruits, fresh juicy 
fruits, and some sweet fruits, according to taste, or 
the first two varieties alone. Others take a diet 
strictly of vegetables alone, using either raw vege¬ 
tables or raw and cooked vegetables, sometimes 
having one meal a day on either plan, or nothing 
but vegetable broth. Some prefer a fruit and vege¬ 
table diet, eating the foods uncooked. This is an 
excellent plan. Usually, however, it is better to 
have one or two meals of one or more fruits alone, 
and the other meal or two (either the two-meal plan 
or three meals daily) of vegetables, as preferred' 
but usually raw or all raw except one cooked greer 
vegetable. 

A plan that I very frequently, in fact usually, ad¬ 
vise consists of taking milk at the rate used in tl£ 
strict milk diet (one glass every 30 or 40 minutes 
according to the case) until one or two o’clock in 
the afternoon, during which tin;e from two and 
one-half to three and one-half quarts of milk are 
taken, the quantity depending chiefly upon the sex 
and general condition. No food is then taken until 
the evening meal, when a vegetable meal is eaten, 
consisting of either raw salad vegetables or cooked 
green and tuberous vegetables, or a mixture of raw 
and cooked green vegetables, perhaps with one 
214 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


cooked tuber. Occasionally at this single meal of 
the day may be taken a slice or two of thoroughly 
dried or toasted whole wheat bread with or with¬ 
out butter, probably three or four ounces of cottage 
or two ounces of other simple cheese or an equal 
quantity of any other preferred protein, or sweet 
fruit. A fresh fruit or berry dessert may end the 
meal if the meal contained no starchy vegetable or 
other starch except the whole wheat bread. But 
the fruits or berries are not to be sweetened, unless 
by a little honey, or cooked with a sweet fruit. 

It should be understood that it is impossible to 
outline menus that will be thoroughly satisfactory 
in all cases, even of the same type of skin affection. 
Where any of the foods have been known to dis¬ 
agree in the past such foods may be omitted and 
substitutions made. Often idiosyncrasies cannot be 
controlled, and it is inadvisable to force the body 
to adapt itself to these foods when many others in 
the same class are left from which to choose. 

The quantity of food will depend to a consider¬ 
able extent upon the individual and upon the type 
of work he does. Exact quantities cannot be given 
here. Usually, if one “listens” to his instinct or 
desires, there will be quite a fluctuation in quantities, 
some meals being very small, others being of fair 
size. But never load the stomach to capacity; hun¬ 
ger rarely should be fully satisfied, and never to the 
point where it would be difficult to take more. Bet¬ 
ter blood is built and better nourishment secured 
when the quantity is noticeably less than that called 
for by the usual appetite and so called hunger. Al¬ 
ways when in doubt eat less than you think you need. 
215 


SKIN TROUBLES 


After a few minutes away from the table every 
desire will have been satisfied. It often is a good 
plan to omit a meal or a day’s meals or even more; 
or to take one single article of natural food at any 
one meal or several meals. The chief importance is 
to avoid possibility of overeating. Except for the 
present-day flapper who nibbles at nonnourishing 
tidbits and concoctions in a mistaken endeavor to 
maintain or secure a super-slender figure, few are 
inclined to undereat; the great danger is overt ating. 

Condiments should be avoided. They stimulate , 
the appetite and cause one to eat more that what 
the body requires. They cause fermentation, thus 
perpetuating toxemia. They directly irritate the 
mucous lining of the stomach, thus in time interfer¬ 
ing with digestion. They tend to overheat the 
blood, often making it necessary for the body to 
call upon the skin to assist in bringing about a 
normal condition, frequently by a “skin disease.” 
They tend in time to cause or aggravate constipa¬ 
tion, a severe menace to a victim of skin diseases. 
Salt in particular is inclined to produce a skin rash, 
especially eczema. But not only this condiment 
but all others should be omitted from the diet, ex¬ 
cept that a small amount of salt is considered es¬ 
sential to normal digestive functions. My conten¬ 
tion, however, is that if the diet consists largely of 
natural and not wrongly cooked foods the body will 
obtain practically all of the sodium chloride it re¬ 
quires, in the best form for its use. 

To increase the nervous energies of the body no 
specific is necessary and, in fact, none ever has been 
found. The factors that build the blood and lymph 
216 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


will aid in restoring the nervous energies and all 
sluggish or abnormal functions. But there are some 
factors that should be mentioned, since they are 
highly important and necessary. Enough has been 
said regarding some of these—exercise, especially, 
also fresh air and rest and relaxation. 

Regardless of how much food one eats, if the 
power to digest and assimilate the food is lacking, 
one will not derive the hoped-for benefit from the 
food consumed. And this holds true regardless of 
how perfect the food and diet may be. The chief 
requirement in the digestion and assimilation of 
food is nervous power. If the nervous powers of 
the body are low, the body functions are impaired; 
digestion, assimilation, secretion and excretion are 
impaired, and in consequence the health of the body 
suffers. Nervous powers are limited in many ways: 
by late hours, overeating, dissipations and excesses 
of all kinds, stimulations, overwork, either physical 
or mental, “thrills,” fear, Worry, jealousy, anxiety 
and other destructive emotions. Before digestion, 
assimilation, secretion, excretion and elimination can 
be restored to normal it is necessary that all these 
factors and influences be corrected and supplanted 
by health-building factors, otherwise the nervous 
energies will remain low. The mere correction of 
these influences often is sufficient to allow the nerv¬ 
ous power to rebound and bring about a cure. 

There still is a factor not often considered that 
has tremendous importance in relation to skin dis¬ 
eases. Its influence is so marked, in fact, that con¬ 
sideration of it alone may make the difference 
between failure and success in the treatment of skin 
217 


SKIN TROUBLES 


affections, at least some of them. I refer to sun¬ 
light, on the one hand, and to denial of sunlight on 
the other. When all other factors are right for a 
cure a continued hibernation within doors or a con¬ 
tinued swathing of the body in too much clothing 
may defeat them all and perpetuate the skin disease. 
Often some of the other factors can be ignored and 
yet the skin be restored to normal by exposure of 
the body surface to sunlight or to artificial sunlight, 
or even to an arc light. 

The ultra-violet rays of the sun have been shown 
to be a very important factor in affecting tissue 
changes within the body, and in the skin as well. 
These rays are absolutely essential to normal nutri¬ 
tion, nerve action, and to a healthy skin. Tests 
show that sunlight brings about both mental and 
physical improvement in those subjected to its rays. 
Properly applied, they are among our most soothing 
influences. These rays increase the body’s resist¬ 
ance to disease, even raising its resistance to para¬ 
sitic invasion and enabling it to overcome those al¬ 
ready present. They destroy germ life, and thus 
are of immense sanitary as well as hygienic value. 

The daily sun bath in skin diseases is of inesti¬ 
mable value. No other single factor, except fasting 
and diet, is of so much value in these affections. 
Savages, who are free of clothing, are remarkably 
free of diseases of the skin, and it has been noted 
that when their skins are injured, cut or lacerated, 
they heal with remarkable rapidity. 

Sunlight cannot be controlled or sold, and this 
has given rise to various artificial means of supply¬ 
ing the ultra-violet rays equivalent to those pro- 
218 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


duced naturally by the sun. Practically all diseases 
of the skin now are more or less successfully treated 
by this artificial means. Excellent results are re¬ 
ported in acne, acne vulgaris, baldness (alopecia), 
bruises, burns, dermatitis, herpes zoster, hives, 
lichen, lupus, birthmarks (nevi), pruritis, psoriasis, 
seborrhea, eczema, erythema multiforme, erysipelas, 
boils and furunculosis, ulcers, and parasitic and 
other skin diseases, even where diet, fasting, etc., 
are neglected for the most part. 

It has been observed that city dwellers who suffer 
with acne often are benefited by a longer or shorter 
stay in the country. There may be various influ¬ 
ences responsible for this improvement, but the 
greater amount of time spent out of doors and the 
greater freedom of the body with resultant more 
liberal sunlight “treatment” doubtless play a most 
important part in it. More will be said about the 
sun bath in the next chapter. 

In artificial sunlight treatment there are three 
degrees of reaction, one of which is sought for par¬ 
ticular results desired. These are: 

1. Stimulative erythema—a faint blush which 
appears from four to six hours after the treatment. 

2. Regenerative erythema—a redness reaching 
almost to the point of blistering. This is a strongly 
bactericidal treatment, and is used in skin diseases 
arising from infections and parasites, disorders of 
the skin glands, and skin atrophies. 

3. Destructive erythema—a very pronounced 
reaction employed in hyperplastic and hypertrophic 
conditions for the purpose of destroying the excess 
tissue and growths. 


219 


SKIN TROUBLES 


The apparatus used for such treatments is ex¬ 
pensive, consisting of very elaborate mechanism and 
using mercury vapor and quartz lenses. It is not 
suitable for home use, but is found in hospitals, 
sanitariums, and medical and drugless physicians’ 
offices. Usually the treatment should be given only 
by a physician, and one should secure the services 
of a physician who understands the technique 
thoroughly. There are many competent drugless 
practitioners, and I recommend one of these in pref¬ 
erence to a medical man—not that he will give 
safer and more satisfactory radiations, but for the 
simple reason that he will not employ suppressive 
lotions, salves, powders, etc., or internal medica¬ 
tion or serums, which the medical man too fre¬ 
quently considers essential, or the most important 
part of his treatment, whereas it is the light which 
really does the work. 

I recommend particularly the ultra-violet ray 
treatment in connection with other methods out¬ 
lined in this chapter, in parasitic skin diseases, 
atrophies, hypertrophies, and new growths of the 
skin and its appendages. Other forms of skin dis¬ 
ease can be cared for by the patient himself by em¬ 
ploying the sun bath. And the sunlight can be 
made to do the work of the artificial light in these 
other disorders if the ultra-violet treatment cannot 
be had. Where regenerative or destructive ery¬ 
thema is desired care must be taken to expose to the 
rays of the sun only the part or parts it is desired 
to affect. The rest of the body should be covered 
—except that since general body radiations are of 
such benefit, shorter radiations may be given, then 
220 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


the body covered except for the local area to be 
specially treated. 

In some small lesions, such as acne, eczema, 
psoriasis and ringworm, I have found it an excellent 
plan to use a reading glass for concentrating the 
sun’s rays upon the affected areas. Usually it is 
best merely to bring about a partial concentration, 
not the full concentration that results in burning. 
However, I recall one case in particular where the 
patient, a young man, spent hours a day in the sun¬ 
bath parlor (after gradually developing a protec¬ 
tive coat of tan, of course) and at frequent inter¬ 
vals used the burning glass to concentrate for a very 
few seconds the rays to the burning degree upon his 
psoriasis lesions. Those lesions so treated cleared 
much more rapidly than did the others, though he 
was using every possible beneficial factor except 
artificial light. His entire disease left him. It is 
impossible to claim much for the concentration of 
rays, but the rapidity of healing was noticeable. 
Since the actinic rays of the sunlight, however, do 
not pass through ordinary glass, the rapid healing 
in this case must have been due to the general direct 
radiations which the concentrated-rayed lesions re¬ 
ceived also, plus the actual slight burning of the 
lesions and the production of normal skin-cell 
activity. 

Tinea versicolor frequently is completely de¬ 
stroyed in one single short treatment (less than 
three minutes) by the application of the ultra-violet 
light. Tuberculosis of the skin, lupus vulgaris, and 
alopecia areata (localized baldness) also are suc¬ 
cessfully treated by the artificial light or by sunlight. 

221 


SKIN TROUBLES 


The light treatment, both sunlight and artificial 
light, promise to be of great value in practically all 
cases of skin disease, due to their local effect and to 
their beneficial action upon the general and local 
nutrition. 

Another artificial light for treatment is the car¬ 
bon arc light, made on the principle of the railway- 
station or street-corner lamps of many towns. 
These lamps are much less expensive than the mer¬ 
cury vapor lamps, but still are not to be recom¬ 
mended for home use. Because they are not so 
attractive, for one reason, they are not so popular 
as the mercury lamps. (It should be stated that 
the mercury vapor lamps use this vapor only in pro¬ 
ducing their light; it is not used in any way upon 
the patient). The arc lights are considered by some 
users to be superior to the mercury vapor lamps, 
for some conditions at least. Excellent results have 
been obtained in various skin affections by the arc 
lamps, lupus being one that has responded satis¬ 
factorily. The slight disadvantage of the arc lamp 
is that it requires 30 minutes or so for each treat¬ 
ment, while the quartz lamp requires two or three 
minutes at first, and after pigmentation has been 
established usually ten minutes at most. Pigmenta¬ 
tion (tanning) is produced equally by the two 
lamps, the only difference being in the length of 
time required. 

G. H. Lancashire, M. D., Honorary Physician, 
Manchester and Salford Hospital for Diseases of 
the Skin, England, thinks that in some skin diseases 
light treatment would be contraindicated, and men¬ 
tions among these lupus erythematosus. However, 

222 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


he says: “In one such case I have obtained improve¬ 
ment by the light bath, the lesion itself being cov¬ 
ered.” The results in this case undoubtedly were 
due to the improvement of the general health re¬ 
sulting from the beneficial effects of the light rays 
upon the skin, since the lesion itself was protected 
from the rays. 

In this connection it is well to emphasize again 
that any factor or influence that improves general 
health will tend to cure skin diseases of all kinds, 
while any factor or influence that impairs general 
health tends to retard or prevent the cure of skin 
diseases. The skin must be regarded and treated 
as a part of the body, not as an independent entity 
with no vital connection with the rest of the body. 
The skin suffers or not, as the rest of the body 
suffers or not. 

Cleanliness of the Skin. It should hardly be 
necessary to emphasize the importance of skin clean¬ 
liness. Unfortunately, however, many do not re¬ 
alize its tremendous importance. For cleansing the 
skin, bathing in water, air baths and friction baths 
all are essential. Directions for these will be given 
in the next chapter. It is only necessary to say here 
that care should be exercised in taking friction baths 
as not to injure the diseased portions of the skin. 
Where there is inflammation or skin eruptions these 
areas of the skin should not be subjected to friction. 
It is to these conditions that air baths are particu¬ 
larly soothing and healing. 

It should be remembered that cleanliness in¬ 
volves not only removal of harmful dirt accumu¬ 
lated from the inside and the outside, but preven- 
223 


SKIN TROUBLES 


tion of accumulation as much as possible. Frequent 
(daily) bathing will prevent heavy accumulations, 
but more than this is necessary. It is important, 
also, that the clothing be light and porous, in order 
that the body will not be bathed in foul perspiration 
and that the air may reach the skin to cause normal 
evaporation from its surface, as well as more nearly 
normal pore activity. The skin that is lightly pro¬ 
tected by clothing, that is bathed constantly in air, 
and that receives a daily bath, even a cool or cold 
tonic bath, will be clean if the body internally is 
kept at all clean by a proper diet and normal elimi¬ 
nation, and if there is enough regular exercise to 
keep functions normal. If one is employed at such 
work as to be frequently or constantly exposed to 
dust, soot or other dirt, then, naturally, somewhat 
more active cleansing measures are needed; but 
avoid over-bathing with hot baths, and avoid over¬ 
use of soaps. 

Special treatments. In some skin affections spe¬ 
cial treatments, special baths or water applications 
will be of benefit in hastening removal of the cause 
or healing of the lesions. Often the mere soothing 
of an irritated skin gives valuable relief from tor¬ 
ment and from anxiety, and at the same time quiets 
the nerves, provides greater relaxation, and tends 
to hasten cure. Emollients added to bath water • 
are important parts of the treatment in some cases. 
To 30 gallons of water at a temperature of from 
94 to 96 degrees, may be added either five pounds 
of bran or one pound of cornstarch. The bran first 
should have been soaked for 20 minutes in sufficient 
water to cover; and the cornstarch should have_ 
224 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


been made into a thin paste with a gallon of water. 
Or a pound or two of isinglass may be added, after 
being dissolved in a gallon of water. These baths, 
especially when cornstarch or isinglass is used, are 
valuable in acne of the body, atrophies and hyper¬ 
trophies of the skin, dermatitis, eczema, fishskin 
and any dry skin, hives, impetigo, intertrigo, lichen, 
prickly heat, prurigo (itching), sunburn. 

Fomentations are excellent in a few skin affec¬ 
tions, chief among which being abscesses, boils, car¬ 
buncles, and pustules. Fomentations are given as 
follows: Several thicknesses of woolen flannel (linen 
or cotton cloth will serve the purpose) wrung from 
very hot water and placed over the part, are cov¬ 
ered with a few thicknesses of dry flannel, with or 
without some moisture-proof material over all. 
The moist cloths should be replaced every three to 
five minutes, depending upon temperature of water 
used, and the fomentations should continue for 15 
minutes, repeated once or twice daily in most cases. 
The cloths should be large enough to cover an area 
at least four times as large as the inflamed area. 
After the hot applications, thick cloths should be 
wrung from cold water and placed over the red¬ 
dened area for one minute, the part then gently 
dried and covered with dry woolen cloths. If boric 
acid is added to the water used for the fomentation 
the results will be somewhat better, and infection 
will be avoided. 

Acne often does not require any local treatment, 
but usually the skin condition is improved by local 
applications, though the general health absolutely 
demands correction or recurring crops of pimples 
225 


SKIN TROUBLES 


will appear. Hot applications are excellent, espe¬ 
cially of a boric acid solution. The water should be 
quite hot, and soft cloths should be used to apply 
it. The cloths are to be applied often enough that 
the skin may be kept hot. Moderate pressure may 
be given to the cloths. Cold applications should 
be made immediately after completing the hot ap¬ 
plications, which latter should continue for six min¬ 
utes, then the face dried with a soft towel, without 
friction. An excellent treatment, also, is bathing 
the face with hot water and green soap every night 
and morning, using a moderately coarse towel or 
wash cloth to apply fair friction during the bathing. 
The face then is bathed in cold water, then dried. 
A simple cold cream may then be applied if desired, 
but is not of benefit toward curing acne, and may 
as well be omitted. 

Vacuum treatment is excellent, as it increases the 
local blood supply. A small glass cup may be 
heated in hot water and applied open side to the 
affected skin, which is slightly drawn into the cup. 
A large-mouthed bottle may be used in the same 
manner; or a sterile rubber cup may be used, this 
to be slightly pressed on top when applied, a 
vacuum being produced when the cup fills out. 
Special suction cups may be obtained, also. Several 
treatments (several days, given once or twice a day) 
by this suction will be necessary before noticeable 
improvement will be produced. Quick cold appli¬ 
cations or quick hot and cold applications alternated 
may follow the vacuum treatment. 

Since blackheads very often are the nuclei of 
pimples, the hot applications recommended for 
226 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


pimples will be helpful in eradicating the unsightly 
blackheads. However, whether or not they are as¬ 
sociated with acne, blackheads may be treated by 
the same method, except that when there is no acne 
the face should be given considerably more vigorous 
friction than when there is the inflammation of 
acne. Either a coarse cloth or a flesh brush should 
be used for the friction when possible, hot water 
being used for several minutes before or during the 
friction. Then, when the face has been treated 
sufficiently by these means, the balls of the fingers 
or thumbs should be used to express out the black¬ 
heads. Some use a metal blackhead expressor, but 
the fingers are better. The finger nails should not 
be employed. Neither should steaming. This ex¬ 
tracts the oil and causes premature withering of 
the skin. 

Some claim that local treatment will not be fully 
effective unless the acne pustules are first emptied. 
This may be done, if considered advisable or neces¬ 
sary, by a sterile needle. Physicians use spoonlike 
instruments (curettes), and evacuate the pus. Ex¬ 
cept in quite large pustules this is unnecessary. Usu¬ 
ally it is better for the individual to omit tampering 
with the pustules even in the semisurgical manner 
of pricking with a needle. Improve the quality of 
the blood and the general and local circulation and 
the acne gradually will leave. Blackheads also will 
disappear by these means, plus clearing of the fol¬ 
licles, as described. 

In addition to the use of fomentations, boils are 
greatly benefited by the prolonged neutral bath (94 
to 96 degrees). The duration of the bath should 
227 


SKIN TROUBLES 


be from 30 minutes to an hour and one-half, and 
should not be followed by any cold or cool bath, 
neither should there be friction during the bath, 
as a rule. After the core of the boil comes away 
the cavity may be cleansed with sterile gauze or 
absorbent cotton saturated in peroxide of hydrogen 
or boric acid solution, and dressed with boracic lint. 
Usually it is best for the patient with a carbuncle 
to be under medical care providing serums or in¬ 
ternal medication are not administered. But they 
may be aborted or made less severe by eliminative 
measures and fomentations. 

Angioma cutis and nevi in very young infants 
(before the age of three months) may be cured by 
prolonged pressure. The best means of obtaining 
the pressure is by means of a small disk of bath 
sponge rubber not over one-half inch thick, trimmed 
to match the defect in contour, and held in place 
with garter elastic or other firm bandage. In older 
cases, but still in young children, perhaps better re¬ 
sults would be obtained by painting the part with 
collodion (“new skin”) twice or three times daily. 
The pressure in either case must be applied for 
many weeks, except for the time of changing or re¬ 
adjusting. Still older cases require physical or sur¬ 
gical measures for relief, such as the electric needle, 
sunlight, Finsen light, x-rays, etc., or tying off of 
blood vessels or removal of the abnormal tissue. 

Aside from suggestions given for clearing of the 
digestive tract and building up the body properly, 
angioneurotic edema sometimes responds somewhat 
better to internal secretion treatment than without 
such treatment, the main secretion or gland sub- 
228 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


stance being adrenal. This is strictly a medical pro¬ 
cedure, which most cases will not need to consider. 

Burns that may be taken care of at home (first- 
and second-degree burns and third-degree burns of 
small areas) may be relieved and healing hastened 
by some of the following applications: sodium bicar¬ 
bonate (cooking soda), equal parts of egg white 
and sweet oil, starch, boric acid, sterile or car- 
bolized petrolatum (vaseline). Hot or cold, wet 
or dry applications may be used according to sooth¬ 
ing effect produced. Some cases do better with one, 
others with another. Carron oil (equal parts of 
limewater and linseed or olive oil) is an excellent 
local application in new burns. It both soothes and 
hastens reduction of inflammation. Collodion 
(“new skin”) may be used on small superficial 
burns. This also is of benefit on styes, and on boils 
after the core is discharged and the cavity some¬ 
what healed. Used on smallpox papules it may pre¬ 
vent pitting. Small wounds, especially scalp wounds, 
may be coated with collodion after thorough cleans¬ 
ing of the part. But unless exposed to dirt any 
wound or inflammation should be exposed to air and 
sun. Olive oil is a very soothing application to 
burns and raw surfaces. In eruptive diseases it 
helps hasten the scaling, and prevents scattering of 
the scales. A cup of bath salt soaked in a wash 
basin of water overnight and the water then used 
at a temperature of 78 to 80 degrees is soothing to 
burned areas, and healing. Half a tablespoonful 
of baking soda may be added to this salt solution. 

Burns and other injuries to the skin to which 
dressings are liable to stick and irritate the injured 
229 


SKIN TROUBLES 


skin when removal is attempted may be treated by 
the following type of compress: arrange the part so 
that it is somewhat inclined; place over it a few 
layers of cheesecloth or absorbent cotton; beneath 
it have an oilcloth for drainage to a vessel beneath; 
above, have a fountain syringe with the tube above 
the higher point of the compress, with a string tied 
about the tube so as to constrict it and allow only 
a dropping of the water from the syringe bag, or 
regulate the flow with a metal stopcock. With 
water at about 60 or 65 degrees in the bag (first 
saturating the compress with water at this tempera¬ 
ture) allow the water to trickle on to the top of 
the compress, run through it to the lower end, and 
out on to the oilcloth to the vessel beneath. The 
cold water may be allowed to run for an hour or 
two at a time, but then should be removed and heat 
applied so as to restore full circulation to the part. 
An evaporating compress also may be used in these 
cases: a few thicknesses of suitable compress ma¬ 
terial kept saturated with cool water. The com¬ 
press must be in close contact with the skin and 
must be in direct contact with the air—not covered. 
Erythema and other irritated skin conditions free 
from severe inflammation may be treated by this 
evaporating compress with success. 

After the initial reaction from the exposure to 
cold, chilblains may be treated by any of the follow¬ 
ing measures, aside from those given in discussing 
chilblains: dipping first in hot water for a couple 
of minutes, then in cold for 20 to 40 seconds, and 
repeating once or several times (this treatment is 
good for sweating feet, also) ; a hot foot bath be- 
230 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


gun at 102 or 103 degrees and within three minutes 
raised to 115 to 120 degrees, continued for five min¬ 
utes and then standing in one-half inch of flowing 
cold water while rubbing the top of one foot with 
the sole of the other for ten seconds and then re¬ 
versing, and continuing until the feet are red, then 
drying; wrapping each foot in a cold wet towel and 
covering each with a dry blanket, then covering the 
entire body to maintain warmth. Wear thin cot¬ 
ton or silk stockings next to the feet and wool over 
these, if wool is found necessary for warmth—not 
wool next to the feet. These measures are even 
more valuable for prevention of chilblains than for 
restoration to normal after damaging exposure, 
though they are excellent for the latter. In the 
case of the hands, warm gloves should be worn, but 
not coarse woolen ones. Drying must be thorough 
after bathing. 

In dry skins it is necessary to improve the diges¬ 
tion, assimilation, metabolism and elimination to 
such degree that the skin will be better nourished. 
It may be that in some few cases internal secretion 
treatment will be indicated, but this is for the medi¬ 
cal physician to determine. However, local meas¬ 
ures may be of great service. Some were mentioned 
under Chapped Skin, in a preceding chapter. 
Among other beneficial measures, when not over¬ 
used, are the following: Some form of sweating 
bath, continued for as short a time as possible to 
obtain the desired increased skin activity; the 
electric cabinet is excellent; so also are hot air or 
steam baths, hot blanket packs, dry blanket packs 
with some means of applying additional dry heat 
231 


SKIN TROUBLES 


(electric pad, hot water bottles, hot bricks, etc.), 
and sun baths through white sheets or nightgowns. 
Each of these sweating baths should be followed 
by a short cold bath, adjusted in temperature and 
degree to the patient’s general condition, then the 
body carefully dried. Massage, with sweet oil or 
olive oil, but also properly applied dry massage, 
will help much. 

In eczema, a 30-minute bath twice a day at a tem¬ 
perature of about 95 degrees will be soothing and 
generally beneficial. If the skin feels hot but there 
is no temperature elevation, the bath temperature 
may be two or three degrees lower; but for under¬ 
nourished individuals it would be better to have a 
temperature two or three degrees above. No other 
bath follows this neutral bath. The drying should 
be gently done. When a chronic eczema has thick¬ 
ened the skin the neutral bath will be beneficial, 
though it may be slightly above the temperature 
given—96 or 97 degrees. In these cases alternate 
hot and cold compresses are helpful, continued 15 
to 20 minutes at a time, given two or three times 
a day. When severe lesions cover a considerable 
area of the skin, as in severe burns, confluent small¬ 
pox and pemphigus, the prolonged neutral bath 
(slightly above 95 degrees for the thin and anemic, 
95 degrees or slightly below for the “full-blooded”) 
will prove an excellent treatment. The same bath 
will be beneficial in case of nonirritated dry erup¬ 
tions. The neutral bath containing ten ounces of 
washing soda to the 30 gallons of water is helpful 
in case of scaly eruptions. 

In case of elephantiasis, in addition to rest, ele- 
232 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


vation of the affected member or members, proper 
nourishing but eliminative diet and sunlight and 
fresh air, hot or cold or hot and cold compresses 
should be employed. Removal to a noninfected 
country is of benefit, both as a prophylactic measure 
and as curative treatment. In fact, most cases will 
be greatly benefited by this change alone. 

While epitheliomata are more or less malignant 
growths, they will make favorable response to a 
strict regimen outlined in earlier paragraphs of this 
chapter. Certainly they can be prevented by care¬ 
ful living; and any lesion that is at all likely to de¬ 
velop into an epithelioma should receive attention 
as if it already were an epithelioma. Local treat¬ 
ment is dangerous in the patient’s own hands. It 
often is in medical and surgical care, and for this 
reason the treatment should first be general; then, 
if this fails and it apparently is indicated by the 
stage of the growth, proper local treatment may 
be considered. 

In erysipelas local hydrotherapeutic applications 
are of great value. When the disease is in an early 
stage and extending, with the skin a fiery red, cold 
compresses should be used. The water should be 
from 50 to 65 degrees, and the compresses should 
be renewed every five minutes or when they have 
become warm. Every one and one-half to two 
hours the cold compress should be removed and a 
moderately hot fomentation applied for five min¬ 
utes, then the cold compresses reapplied. When the 
skin color has changed to a duller red and the in¬ 
flammation seems controlled, a cold compress 
should be placed over the area, covered with dry 
233 


SKIN TROUBLES 


flannel, and retained in place for half an hour or so 
and reapplied once. 

The treatment of herpes zoster has been given 
elsewhere complete enough for most cases. How¬ 
ever, after the eruption has subsided, an excellent 
treatment is the application of hot fomentations for 
five minutes, then the application of a very cold 
compress for half a minute, both being repeated 
once or twice at each treatment period, and from 
two to five treatment periods daily. Between these 
periods keep over the affected region a wet com¬ 
press (applied cold) covered with a dry flannel, 
with some impervious material over all. 

The irritation of hives often is relieved by the 
douche. A rubber hose may be attached to the 
bath-tub faucet for this douche, the water to be 
used quite hot. The end of the tube may be slightly 
compressed with the fingers in order to spray the 
water slightly and increase the pressure, though no 
great water pressure on the skin should be allowed. 
The duration may be from two to five minutes, the 
entire body being sprayed or douched. The itch of 
pruritis and jaundice may be relieved by this means, 
also. The neutral bath, hot sponging, and hot 
sponging with washing soda in the water, are also 
beneficial in these irritating disorders. 

Lupus vulgaris requires attention to general 
health—fresh air, open-air exercise, good relaxa¬ 
tion, rest and sleep, nourishing but not heavy foods, 
etc. Gradual pigmentation of the body by sun baths 
until prolonged exposures are possible is excellent, 
though the eyes should be protected by dark glasses 
or a dark cloth, and many people may need to pro- 
234 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


tect the head. The use of suction cups to increase 
the local circulation has been found of value, some¬ 
times rapidly effective. The artificial sunlight 
treatment may be used in addition to these meas¬ 
ures. 

In the treatment of jaundice the underlying con¬ 
dition must be corrected, as is true of all skin 
conditions. There should be much water taken in¬ 
ternally, both by drinking and by large enemas, the 
enemas twice a day. In addition, sweating should be 
produced by some satisfactory means—cabinet bath, 
blanket pack, hot-air bath (perhaps electric lights 
beneath a canopied sheet), steam bath (a steaming 
vessel beneath a porous or open-work chair seat 
or bed arrangement, with blankets tent-like over 
the patient), or hot tub bath. Fifteen or 20 min¬ 
utes is long enough for the sweating, after which 
should follow a quick cold bath or a neutral tub 
bath, and a sponge or wet-towel rub. A cold wet- 
hand, cold friction-mitt or cold-towel rub once or 
twice a day will be generally tonic in effect. The 
liver may be awakened to greater activity by hot 
compresses over it on the abdomen, followed by a 
cold wet compress covered with flannel and mack¬ 
intosh. 

Cleanliness is necessary in prickly heat y but local 
treatment usually is advisable to relieve the itching 
and irritation of the skin. In the cleansing water 
it is advisable to have soaked bran, as described 
earlier in this chapter. The itching may be allayed 
by using ammonia water—a quart of water con¬ 
taining a tablespoonful of ammonia; limewater is 
considered better for children. Any sterile oil may 
235 


SKIN TROUBLES 


be used over the affected parts twice a day (upon 
retiring and arising), gentle massage at this time 
being of further aid. In case crusts form they may 
be covered with oil, or they may be removed and 
the parts beneath treated with peroxide of hydrogen 
and boric acid washes, then treated with a mildly 
medicated vaseline. 

Usually in prurigo there is impaired nutrition, 
and a better diet is necessary, possibly with cod- 
liver oil added. The hygiene must be improved, 
also, and sun baths should be given daily. The sur¬ 
rounding temperature is to be uniform. In addition, 
baths containing baking soda usually are helpful in 
relieving the itching and hastening the cure of the 
eruptions. Sometimes a simple vaseline gives con¬ 
siderable relief, especially if a secondary eczema 
has developed. 

Bran baths and alkaline (soda) baths are bene¬ 
ficial in pruritis. A solution of equal parts of water 
and aromatic spirits of ammonia is very soothing, 
applied by cloth or sponge to local areas. After 
any bath or application the skin should be dried by 
patting, not with friction. Pruritis ani and pruritis 
vulva are relieved by compresses as hot as can be 
comfortably borne, with all the boric acid in the 
water that it will absorb (saturated solution). 
High frequency electricity is of benefit in either of 
these local affections. The prolonged neutral bath, 
large enemas, copious water drinking and massage 
should be employed in any pruritis. Cider vinegar 
and water containing washing soda, also steam 
baths, are recommended. 

The local pain in purpura may be relieved by fo- 
236 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


mentations followed by flannel-covered cold wet 
cloths, preferably with impervious material over 
all. Alternate hot and cold compresses or merely 
alternate sponging often relieves. In fact, local 
pain from practically any cause is soothed by these 
measures. A hot application for five minutes fol¬ 
lowed by cold for one minute, repeated if desired, 
is one of the most promptly acting measures. 

The electric light bath is one of the best meas¬ 
ures in psoriasis. Sun baths are excellent, also, as 
stated in the discussion of psoriasis. A strictly 
bland, nonanimal, nonstimulating diet is important. 
Bran and washing soda added to the bath water 
(warm bath) aid in removing the scales, especially 
if the body is rubbed gently with green soap. Air 
baths, electric cabinet sweat baths, mercury vapor 
lamp and arc lamp radiations all may be tried, and 
should be tried before resorting to any serums or 
other medical treatment, which fail too often to be 
considered worthwhile risks. 

It should not be understood that all cases of skin 
diseases are curable. Some of the atrophies and 
hypertrophies are incurable, particularly when they 
reach certain stages. The same is true of some of 
the other diseases in certain stages. The best that 
can be done in some of these is to arrest the prog¬ 
ress of the trouble. By improving nutrition and 
building up the general health to the highest degree 
possible many skin diseases can be partially or com¬ 
pletely overcome, and those that are merely held 
“at a standstill” may give no further trouble. Some 
diseases recover spontaneously, as I have stated be¬ 
fore; certainly these should be quickly eradicated 
237 


SKIN TROUBLES 


by proper care of the body, perhaps in some cases 
with the additional local care by simple and harm¬ 
less natural measures such as I have suggested. 

In some cases of hypertrophy of the skin and its 
appendages surgery may be permissible; but the 
reader should understand that this is in no sense a 
cure. The surgery, when apparently necessary, 
should be preceded and accompanied and followed 
by constitutipnal measures. If this is not done re¬ 
currence is likely. Surgery only removes the 
growth or enlargement or abnormal tissue and does 
not correct the cause or causes. The same is true 
of their destruction by means of caustic drugs or 
the electric cautery, or when their absorption is 
forced by means of the x-ray or the ultra-violet 
ray. However helpful these things may prove to 
be in some cases, they should not be regarded as 
complete cures. No disease can be cured unless 
its cause first is corrected and removed. In most 
diseases this is all that is required to accomplish 
a speedy return to skin health along with return to 
general health. 

I urge all those who suffer with disease of the 
skin first to give attention to the building of good 
general health, to the purification of the blood and 
lymph, to building rich red blood, and to conserva¬ 
tion and recuperation of the energies of the body. 

Things to DO. Anyone can do all of them. 

1. Eat plenty of fresh fruit; some of the citrous 
fruits may be taken occasionally between meals. 

2. Eat plenty of green vegetables. Have most 
of them uncooked. Cook those desired cooked in 
a vessel that retains their juices and flavors. The 

238 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


juices contain mineral salts that are absolutely nec¬ 
essary to general and skin health. 

3. Drink (slowly) considerable milk, butter¬ 
milk or cultured milk. 

4. Use foods in Group 3 in place of sugar. 

5. Drink plenty of fresh water daily, either cold 
or hot, preferably cold. 

6. Try an occasional day of fasting or of fruit 
or vegetable broths only. 

7. Keep the bowels normally active. Use the 
enema if necessary, but attempt to secure proper 
elimination through laxative foods, water drinking 
and exercise. 

8. Secure sun baths when possible. 

9. Get a fresh air bath daily, with friction pref¬ 
erably. 

10. Provide an abundance of fresh air for the 
lungs day and night. 

11. Exercise some every day. Walk daily. 
Take deep breaths often. Take deep breaths, hold 
the breath and force the blood into the face—a few 
seconds only at a time, but often during the day. 
Take the exercises illustrated once or twice daily. 

12. Secure relaxation often. Develop mental 
composure. Think cheerful thoughts. 

Things NOT to Do. Don’t avoid any of the 
things to DO. 

1. Don’t use many foods at any one meal. 
Complicated menus ruin digestion, cause fermenta¬ 
tion and putrefaction, hence toxemia, which ruins 
the complexion. 

2. Don’t rely upon drugs, either in the body or 
on its surface. 


239 


SKIN TROUBLES 


3. Don’t use complexion (?) concoctions, rouge, 
powder, lotions, etc. 

4. Don’t eat much fat, or sugar (none is better), 
or meat (none is better). 

5. Don’t combine starches and acids, or two 
starches, or starches and meat or other heavy pro¬ 
tein, or sugar and acid, or sugar and starch. 

6. Don’t eat unless hungry; and quit eating be¬ 
fore hunger is fully satisfied. 

7. Don’t eat candy, cake, pie, white flour prod¬ 
ucts, or any pastries. 

8. Don’t eat pickled foods, spices or spiced 
foods, or smoked or salted foods. 

9. Don’t drink coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, 
alcoholics, or soda fountain beverages, 

10. Don’t eat oftener than three times a day. 

11. Don’t wear your energy away needlessly. 

12. Don’t think pessimistically, destructively: 
be cheerful, optimistic! 

TREATING CHILDREN 

In considering the various skin diseases we have 
found that some of them are especially likely to 
affect infants and children. Some few seem to be¬ 
long to childhood only. Infants are especially 
likely to be affected by acne; birthmarks; dry skin; 
hard skin (sclerosis of the newborn) ; dermatitis, 
especially scaling dermatitis of infancy; eczema; 
fishskin disease, during the first or second year of 
life; jaundice of the newborn; milium (white acne) ; 
mottled skin; and pemphigus, congenital, newborn, 
and hereditary syphilitic forms. 

Children of various ages from the second year 
240 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


to youth are likely to be affected by acne, simple 
and malnutrition forms; blackheads; boils; burns, 
including sunburns; chapped lips, chapped skin, 
and dry skin; dermatitis, especially drug-produced 
and vaccination forms; eczema; erysipelas, espe¬ 
cially when undernourished; erythema; fever blisters 
(cold sores); freckles; frostbites; herpes (sim¬ 
plex); hives; pruritis (itch); lichen, scrofulous 
form; milium; molluscum contagiosum; pityriasis 
rubra pilaris; prickly heat; scrum pox (impetigo); 
scrofuloderma and lupus (forms of skin tuberculo¬ 
sis) ; warts; also, among the insect and parasite 
affections, insect bites and stings, especially of bees 
and mosquitoes, lice, and ringworm. 

It is not to be expected that infants can be put 
through the strenuous forms of treatment suggested 
in the previous pages in this chapter. Many of the 
children cannot undergo such rigid treatment, 
though older children and hardy younger children 
who habitually have been overfed often need such 
treatment and can endure it easily and with benefit. 
As with adults, the treatment must be adapted to 
the condition of the child—his age, condition of 
nutrition, apparent vitality, nature of the affection, 
etc. Even in the same family there will be children 
who will require different treatment for the same 
condition: not different factors of treatment, but 
different modifications of the same factors. 

In most of the individual disorders the treat¬ 
ment has been suggested as it applies to children. 
While the fast may be indicated by the nature of the 
affection, it usually is better merely to curtail the 
diet and to have it predominantly fruits, green veg- 
241 


SKIN TROUBLES 


etables and milk, with perhaps either milk alone of 
fruit alone early in the treatment. In every case 
where there is fever, however (except the fever of 
tuberculosis, if this disease should complicate any 
skin affection), there should be no food allowed 
except unsweetened diluted citrous fruit juice until 
the temperature is normal. During this time the 
bowels should be cleared once or twice daily by 
means of a barely warm enema, the quantity of 
water to depend upon the age of the child and the 
requirements. Very small quantities may need to 
be used in each injection, the enema to be repeated 
immediately after expelling the first. Usually this 
treatment, with perhaps the addition of confine¬ 
ment to bed in a well-aired room, is all that is re¬ 
quired to bring children back to normal in organic 
and cell activity. Some skin affections will not be 
cleared up within the short time that a child can 
fast; but considerable improvement will be secured, 
and further care in feeding and securing elimina¬ 
tion usually will in time bring about complete res¬ 
toration to normal. It is not advisable to fast (or 
fruit-fast) a growing child for more than three or 
four days, and one or two days will be sufficient if 
the child is undernourished. 

When there is no fever to complicate the skin 
disorder, some such diet as the following will be 
good for a few days, to be gradually increased after 
that time—say after from five to ten days, depend¬ 
ing upon the child’s condition and the results ob¬ 
tained: for breakfast a fresh fruit, cooked or un¬ 
cooked, and a glass of milk; lunch of a vegetable 
broth, one cooked green vegetable, and a small 
242 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


allowance of fruit or part of a glass of milk; dinner, 
the same as lunch, or with a slice of whole wheat 
bread (preferably toasted) with a small pat of but¬ 
ter added to the meal. Deny children all candy, 
jellies, jams and preserves, cornstarch puddings, 
spices, chocolate and cocoa, meats, nuts, fish, pickled 
and salt foods, and pastries when attempting to 
correct a skin disease. Cod-liver oil may be added 
to the diet to advantage. Use enough of the laxa¬ 
tive foods that the bowels are normally active, but 
not overactive. 

The normal outdoor play of children is excellent 
for their general health, and must be encouraged. 
However, it is not advisable to allow children to 
become exhausted in their play. Competitive games 
often cause such high degree of nervous excitement 
that if there is any nervous element in the causes of 
their skin affection the skin condition is apt to re¬ 
main or become aggravated. In their play there 
should be no more clothing worn than is absolutely 
necessary. They should have free circulation of 
air through their clothing and about their bodies. 
The clothing also should be light in color, in order 
that the sunlight may penetrate to the skin when 
possible. If arrangements can be made for a sand 
pile, it would be excellent to allow the children to 
play nude or in very light-weight, light-colored 
clothing in the sand in the sunlight. Sun baths 
should be arranged for in some manner, if necessary 
through a lowered top sash of the window, as de¬ 
scribed in the next chapter. Exposures should be 
very short to begin with, except in the winter 
months. In summer, five minutes would be long 
243 


SKIN TROUBLES 


enough for most cases, unless the child is very dark 
naturally, when eight- or ten-minute exposures 
would not be too long. It is better to complete 
each sun bath with some sort of cold or cool bath 
of very short duration. 

As in the case of adults, care must be taken to 
avoid overbathing of children. As a rule, how¬ 
ever, children are not likely to receive too much 
bathing. It is important that the skin be kept 
clean, but this should be done by moderately tem¬ 
pered baths, slight use of soap, friction baths, fre¬ 
quent change of clothing of light weight and suit¬ 
able texture, and, if possible, prevention of play in 
dirty places. 

In order that children may have the best health 
possible, it is necessary that they get sufficient rest, 
relaxation and sleep. The sleeping hours should be 
regular and ample. There should be no awakening 
for breakfast at a certain time simply because the 
parents and older members of the family desire to 
eat at that time. The constant awakening of a 
child from unfinished slumber may easily prevent 
development of a high degree of health; it may 
even bring about a gradual reduction of health and 
vitality. However, if the child is put to bed at the 
proper hour at night it is likely that he will “get 
his sleep out” at the most satisfactory hour in the 
morning. Young children should take a nap in the 
afternoon. School children may be inclined to give 
too much time to indoor study. “Bookworms” 
should be encouraged to spend more time out of 
doors, for one thing, and to give the mind more 
rest, for another. Such children are very liable to 
244 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


sluggish circulation, irritable nerves, constipation, 
and other conditions that easily lead to skin affec¬ 
tions. 

When there is tendency to dry skin, chapped 
skin, cracked lips, etc., it may be necessary either 
to increase or decrease the clothing for outdoor 
activity. Cotton should be worn next to the skin, 
wool over this if more is needed. Heavily clothed 
skin may soften up somewhat, in some cases, by the 
use of lighter clothing that allows the body to re¬ 
ceive air baths through the clothing. These cases 
require special care to avoid irritating or skin-dry¬ 
ing soaps and hot baths. They should be accus¬ 
tomed to cool or cold baths and daily friction. The 
use of some mild oil is permissible when the skin is 
inclined to crack. Any tendency to diarrhea should 
be corrected, but also constipation should be 
avoided or corrected. There should be plenty of 
milk in the diet, also whole grain cereals and vege¬ 
tables, with not too much citrous fruits. 

As a rule, the suggestions given for adults, modi¬ 
fied somewhat for the youth of the child patient, 
his lower vitality, and his more tender skin, will 
take care of the great majority of skin diseases and 
affections of childhood. 

For the skin disorders of infancy, usually the 
mother requires treatment, rather than the baby— 
if the infant is breast-nursed. In such cases the 
mother should take care of herself as if she had the 
skin disorder. The suggestions given earlier in this 
chapter will be suitable. Usually it is necessary for 
the mother to alter her own metabolism, to increase 
her own elimination, to supply her body with alka- 
245 


SKIN TROUBLES 


linizing foods, and to deny herself acid-forming 
foods in such amounts as to induce or perpetuate a 
toxemia. When the mother’s blood is in the best 
condition for her own health, when her skin and 
bowels are functioning more nearly normally, when 
her nerves and energy are restored to normal equi¬ 
librium, her milk will be pure and health-restorative 
for her nursing baby. 

For the bottle-fed infant the modification of the 
diet may be one for the physician to govern. It 
may be necessary to increase or decrease one or 
more elements of the bottle milk. In either breast¬ 
fed or bottle-fed babies it may be necessary to give 
an occasional enema for a while, though this should 
be avoided as much as possible so as not to make it 
a habit. 

Only the purest Castile soap should be used for 
the baby’s skin, and then only the lather from this 
—the soap itself should not be applied to the skin 
nor to a cloth that is applied immediately to the skin. 
Bath water should be softened, by borax, boric acid, 
bran, or some other harmless means. Hard water 
Is likely to be irritating to a baby’s skin. The skin 
should be kept clean, especially about the groins, 
sexual organs and hips, where the discharges from 
the bowels and bladder may be sufficiently irritating 
to cause skin troubles. But overbathing should be 
avoided in case of infants even more than for chil¬ 
dren and adults. The bath water should be at about 
body temperature, followed by an application at a 
slightly lower temperature. It is well, also, to re¬ 
duce gradually the temperature of the finishing ap¬ 
plication, so that in time the child is receiving fairly 
246 


NATURAL TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES 


cool baths. This will be of benefit to every organ 
and function of the body. 

The matter of treating babies and small children 
for any affection whether of the skin or other organ 
or system of the body is largely one of common 
sense. Diet is the most important factor, and if 
this is right practically every function will be normal 
and every organ in perfect health. The skin being 
but an organ, with definite work to do, it may be 
kept or be made normal by providing it with the 
work it should do and avoiding placing upon it the 
burden of part of the work of some other organ. 
When it is “treated” decently it becomes or remains 
the perfect organ, the organ of greatest beauty in 
the body, such as it was designed to be. 


247 


CHAPTER VII 


Hygiene of the Skin 

T"\UE to its complex structure, the skin is subject 
to a large variety of affections ranging from a 
mild blush to tumors and cancers. But the skin is 
designed as a protective covering for the body and 
is adapted to withstand a good deal of harsh con¬ 
tact with, and abuse from, its environment. If 
reasonable care be given it and the internal condi¬ 
tion of the body is kept normal, the skin will prove 
fully capable of performing its functions in an effi¬ 
cient and healthful manner, and no diseases of the 
skin will develop. The proper care of the skin, 
therefore, is of utmost importance not only to the 
skin itself but to the whole body. 

The first requisite of a healthy skin, as of every 
other organ of the body, is pure, rich, freely circulat¬ 
ing blood. Most diseases of the skin are due di¬ 
rectly to toxins in the blood or to deficient nutritive 
material in the blood. Those skin diseases due to 
parasites or other causes usually do not affect a 
healthy skin. To have a healthy skin one must have 
health of the whole body, and this means that one 
must live a healthful life. Exercise, proper food, 
pure air, rest, sleep, and all other natural factors, 
with abstinence from all hurtful practices, are just 
as essential to skin health as to the health of any 
other organ of the body. A good digestion and 
normal bowel action are particularly essential in all 
skin diseases. 


248 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


Aside from the above considerations, there are 
several important external factors influencing the 
health of the skin which must be given their due 
attention not only for maintaining and regaining 
skin health, but for attaining and maintaining the 
highest degree of health and vigor of the body as a 
whole. These factors will be taken up under their 
separate heads. 

Cleanliness. It is true that a clean skin is a 
healthy skin only when we employ the word cleanli¬ 
ness in its broadest sense. However, cleanliness of 
the skin, as commonly understood, is absolutely es¬ 
sential to the health of the skin and, therefore, to 
the health of the body as a whole. 

Under primitive conditions, with the body free of 
clothes and exposed to the constant action of sun¬ 
light and air, the self-cleansing powers of the skin 
are a constant source of wonder. Bathing, as we 
understand it, hardly ever is necessary. But under 
modern conditions, with the body smothered in 
clothes, usually of dark color, and denied all con¬ 
tact with sunlight and air, the skin has lost much of 
its self-cleansing powers, and much of its normal 
vigor and functioning power. 

It is essential that frequent bathing be resorted 
to—to keep the skin clean. Modern plumbing and 
bathing appliances make bathing a pleasure instead 
of an irksome task, and no longer is there any ex¬ 
cuse for anyone to remain in the “army of the great 
unwashed.” But these modern appliances are not 
necessary. Where a bathtub, shower or other 
modern appliance for bathing is not at hand a basin 
of water, a wash cloth, sponge, brush, or the hands 
249 


SKIN TROUBLES 


and a towel are all that will be really required for 
a cleansing, healthful bath. 

For cleanliness, a bath in or with warm water 
with soap is best. However, as noted elsewhere, 
the frequently repeated use of soap and warm baths, 
but particularly hot baths, extracts the natural pro¬ 
tective oil from the skin and leaves it dry and harsh 
—“brittle”—causing it to crack. For this reason, 
unless one is engaged in work that makes a daily 
bath of this kind essential for thorough cleanliness, 
a warm or hot bath should not be taken more often 
than three times a week. In fact, unless hot baths 
are of very short duration they should not be taken 
at all except for some healing or curative purpose, 
and not more than once a week should they be neces¬ 
sary for cleanliness, even when one’s work is of a 
very dirty nature. Warm baths will accomplish all 
that hot baths will accomplish. The mildest soaps, 
preferably the vegetable oil soaps rather than 
animal oil soaps, always should be used, as these 
have less harsh effects upon the skin. The “best” 
soaps are unnatural and tend to dry and irritate the 
skin, especially the sensitive skin. Any soap that 
causes the least smarting or tingling when applied 
to the skin should be discarded. Soaps containing a 
large amount of lye should never be used. 

A warm bath relaxes the skin, and if such baths 
are repeated too often they destroy skin tone and 
impair its natural reactive powers. For this reason 
it is important that all baths at temperatures above 
neutral be followed by a cold bath of some sort, 
except in cases where the warm bath is taken for 
its relaxing and sleep-promoting effects. The sim- 
250 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


plest cold bath is a splash of cold water over the 
entire body, with thorough rubbing of the skin with 
the hands or a bath towel—preferably first with the 
hands, then with a towel, and then a good friction 
with the hands to complete the bath. 

A regular cold or cool bath, without any warm 
application of water or soap, usually is sufficient to 
keep the skin clean, especially when such a bath is 
taken daily. But it has as its chief benefits the in- 
vigoration of the skin and the training of it to 
prompt reaction to cold—not only to the cold water 
of the bath, but especially to cold atmospheres which 
we cannot avoid and should not, for our health’s 
sake, try to avoid. Few means are more effective 
for invigorating the skin than the cold bath, es¬ 
pecially when accompanied by friction. The effects, 
however, are not confined to the skin; the nervous 
system is toned up, the heart is strengthened, the 
circulation is accelerated, and the appetite, digestion 
and metabolism are improved. 

To be really beneficial a cold bath must be fol¬ 
lowed by a prompt and vigorous reaction. The feel¬ 
ing of cold and chilliness that follows immediately 
upon the application of the cold water should be 
followed quickly by a feeling of warmth and in¬ 
creased vigor. If this reaction does not follow, 
means should be resorted to to bring it about as 
quickly as possible. Aside from the friction of dry¬ 
ing, exercise is the most effective and natural means 
of accomplishing this. If the individual is too weak 
to exercise, then rubbing and stroking alone may be 
sufficient, or artificial heat may be applied, though 
this is not often advisable. 

251 


SKIN TROUBLES 


The fact that one does not react immediately to 
a cold bath is evidence of weakness of the skin and 
of the body in general, especially the nerves and 
circulatory apparatus, or, occasionally, of too long 
application of the cold bath. In the former cases 
there should be “training” by starting with short 
cool baths and, day by day, gradually lowering the 
temperature of the bath until reaction from a cold 
bath is complete. Those who do this will develop 
healthy vigorous skins, and will be less subject to 
colds and other disease than those who coddle their 
skins. Another excellent way to accustom oneself 
to the cold bath is to stand for two or three min¬ 
utes in from two to four inches of fairly hot water 
before and while taking the cool or cold bath. A 
short hot general bath (of two or three minutes’ 
duration), without soap, usually will warm the skin 
and increase the circulation sufficiently that reaction 
will follow promptly after a cold bath. When re¬ 
action is weak the bath room should be warm. Ex¬ 
ercise before and possibly after the bath, just 
sufficient to warm the body, is excellent also as a 
regular practice. 

Bathing should not be done immediately after a 
meal, as it interferes with digestion by calling the 
blood to the skin instead of allowing it to concen¬ 
trate in the digestive system. Baths, especially cold 
baths, should not be taken immediately after such 
vigorous exercise as to produce very rapid heart 
action. There should be sufficient pause to allow 
the heart action to return to a more nearly normal 
condition. For those who work at physical labor 
and perspire freely, evening is the best time for the 
252 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


cleansing bath; but such people should take the 
morning tonic cold bath, also. 

Friction Baths. Under primitive conditions the 
skin came in contact with the elements of man’s en¬ 
vironment and was subject to more or less constant 
friction. This aided in keeping the skin clean and 
in maintaining its normal vigor and functional 
power. In modern life this natural friction is denied 
the skin. We even select for direct contact with the 
skin the softest clothing that we can select or afford. 
As an efficient substitute for the natural friction, and 
as a most effective means of improving and main¬ 
taining skin health and vigor, the friction bath now 
is widely used. 

Its great value as a cleansing bath is shown by 
the fact that many people never use any other bath 
for cleansing purposes. Of course, these people 
are not engaged in work that makes them very dirty 
or who really require applications of water and 
soap. But the others can and do keep their skins 
healthfully clean and vigorous by friction alone. 

The friction bath may be given by means of the 
hands, friction mittens, a flesh brush, or a coarse 
rough towel. One man I knew used corn cobs for 
a friction bath for years. At first the friction should 
be very mild and of short duration; but as the skin 
hardens and is invigorated the friction may be made 
more vigorous and of longer duration. Harshness 
and rough treatment, however, should be avoided 
at all times. 

The friction bath may be taken in connection with 
the water bath, or with the sun and air bath, or it 
may be taken alone. Its advantages are it can be 
253 


SKIN TROUBLES 


taken quickly, and no special apparatus is necessary. 
For these reasons it may be used morning and night, 
and at any other time when the clothes are changed. 
Another advantage is that it is exercise as well as a 
bath. 

Those who have skin diseases should avoid sub¬ 
jecting the affected parts to friction, except perhaps 
in the anemias; even in these any eruption-covered 
areas should be treated in this manner with con¬ 
siderable care. 

Sun and Air Baths. The skin is perhaps not more 
than 50 per cent efficient as an organ of elimination 
under present living conditions. Its power of pro¬ 
tecting the body against sudden changes of tempera¬ 
ture also is greatly reduced. This is the result of 
coddling the skin, taking it out of its natural ele¬ 
ment—sunlight and air—and making clothes, houses 
and fire do the work for which the skin is intended. 

The plant that grows out of doors has a thick 
tough covering, strong stems and leaves, and easily 
survives the hot winds, dry winds, frost, hot sun, 
drought and sudden changes of temperature, while 
the same kind of plant raised in a hothouse perishes 
quickly if exposed to these same “unfavorable” but 
natural conditions. Every cell and fiber of a plant 
raised out of doors have more vitality and possess 
greater resistance to adverse influences than is the 
case of an hothouse plant. 

This same principle operates in both animals and 
man. Those who spend much time out of doors, 
exposed to sun, heat, cold air, sudden changes of 
temperature, rain, snow, etc., usually are more ro¬ 
bust and hardy, while those confined indoors, away 
254 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


from the sunlight and air reveal by their pale, in¬ 
active skins and fat and flabby or thin emaciated 
bodies the weakening effects of the indoor existence. 

In climates where cold appears intermittently or 
in seasons, a certain amount of exposure to the cold 
is absolutely essential for full physical vigor and 
development. Such exposure is as essential as are 
exercise and food. Our ancestors spent most of 
their time in the open and were more or less unclad. 
Consequently they were more hardy and vigorous. 

Skin diseases are conspicuously absent among the 
unclad races of the earth, and it is noticed among 
all of them that injuries to the skin heal much more 
rapidly than do injuries to the skin of the much-clad 
races. But the benefits to be derived from such a 
life are not confined to the surface of the body. 
Even the bones are larger and, if broken, heal more 
rapidly in those races which live in the sunlight than 
in the indoor or clad races. 

Naturally, people in the tropics and subtropics 
cannot have the benefit of exposures to cold. It 
might be argued that if they survive without the 
cold it should not be necessary for those in temper¬ 
ate and cold climates to have the exposures. But 
in the hot climates the inhabitants mature early 
and enter senility at comparatively early ages; also, 
when in their prime they do not have the vigor 
possessed by those in colder climates. They are in¬ 
clined to “laziness,” created by the constant de¬ 
pressing heat or warmth. Many of them increase 
their energy and vigor by bathing in the sea, which 
always is several degrees below land temperature 
in the hot regions. But in any case it cannot be 
255 


SKIN TROUBLES 


said that they use artificial means to protect them¬ 
selves from the cold; they take what climate they 
have and make the best of it. The fact that they 
wear little or no clothing helps equalize the differ¬ 
ence in climate. 

The normal powers of the skin, when lowered by 
coddling, in a great measure may be restored by ex¬ 
posing it for a brief time daily to the air and the 
direct rays of the sun. In order to do this all 
clothing should be removed from the body. The 
present prudish attitude toward the body makes it 
impossible for city people to get the full benefit of 
sun and air baths. Some day, I believe, sun and air 
parks will abound in our cities, and provisions for 
sun baths will be found on the roofs of many of our 
high buildings. Until that time comes city folks will 
have to do the best they can under the circumstances. 
Fortunately, a larger and larger percentage of city 
dwellers are taking to the country and the beaches 
in summer, where, especially at the beaches, a fair 
portion of the body may be exposed to the air and 
sunlight. The sea bathing itself is a great tonic, 
both to the skin and the body in general. But un¬ 
fortunately, bathers use dark swimming suits, which 
prevent the sun’s rays from reaching the covered 
portions. 

One may take a satisfactory sun bath through a 
window in his own room by lowering the top sash 
and curtaining the bottom sash (in order not to 
offend prudish neighbors), and then lying in the 
sunlight that streams in through the open window. 
Sunshine that has passed through ordinary glass 
does not have the same beneficial effects as the un- 
256 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


filtered light, because the glass reflects the beneficial 
chemical or actinic rays of the sun, preventing their 
passage through it. A special glass has been de¬ 
vised, however, from which window panes may be 
made, which permits the actinic rays to pass through. 
This is a recent discovery, and will not be available 
for common use for some time, though it has been 
used in some hospital sun rooms. 

Clothing. The beneficial effects to primitive races 
of being exposed to the elements brings up the con¬ 
sideration of the relation of clothing to the health 
of the skin. From what has been said before, it is 
obvious that the less clothing one wears the better 
for his health. The two purposes served by cloth¬ 
ing are, first, to protect the body, especially from 
cold; second, to ornament the body. Prudery has 
added a third use, to hide the body. However, this 
third use grows out of a wrong mental attitude to¬ 
ward the body. Contrary to the Biblical explana¬ 
tion of the adoption of clothing, I feel sure that 
hiding of the body became a reason for clothing 
only after ages of wearing them for protection 
against harsh elements. The only use for which 
clothing really is essential is for protection, chiefly 
against cold in cold climates. Clothing thus be¬ 
comes a sort of artificial skin which, however, more 
or less weakens the natural skin. 

Clothing does not supply heat to the body. It 
merely prevents the too rapid radiation of the heat 
generated by the body. Some kinds of clothing are 
warmer than other kinds because they retain body 
heat much longer or much more thoroughly. Thus 
loosely woven clothing, which contains air, does not 
257 


SKIN TROUBLES 


conduct heat away from the body as rapidly as do 
tight-fitting or closely woven materials. 

Clothing is made of linen, cotton, wool, silk, 
leather and fur, and, for waterproof clothing, rub¬ 
ber. Woolen materials are slower conductors of 
heat than cotton or linen, but they retain moisture 
much longer. For this reason cotton or linen is 
better for underwear. A damp skin is a cold skin, 
because of the reduced circulation or the evapora¬ 
tion, or both. Those who wear woolen underwear 
are apt to suffer from damp skins and, therefore, 
cold skins. Linen and cotton, on the other hand, 
rapidly absorb moisture and readily transmit it to 
the air by rapid evaporation (from them, not from 
the skin, from which they have absorbed the mois¬ 
ture), thus keeping the skin dry and warm. 

The weaker a skin is the more it needs to be 
“trained,” and the more the body beneath it needs 
a “trained” skin. But with the average person in¬ 
stead of training the weak skin, the weaker it be¬ 
comes the more it is overheated and coddled. There 
is an old story of a sportsman who sat heavily clad 
in furs and cuddled up close to a fire while his almost 
wholly nude Indian helper stood some distance away 
seemingly unmindful of the wintry winds that swept 
by him. The sportsman asked the Indian why he 
did not get cold. The Indian pointed to the face 
of the white man and said: 

“Your face no get cold.” 

“No,” replied the hunter, “my face is accustomed 
to it.” 

“Ugh,” grunted the native American; “Indian all 
face.” 


258 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


Every part of the body can be inured to the cold 
as well as the face. On a large island at the south¬ 
ern tip of South America (Tierra del Fuego), where 
the cold of winter is intense, the native Fuegians are 
accustomed to go about nude except for a sealskin 
robe, which is fastened about the neck and shifted 
from side to side according to the direction of the 
wintry winds. They often sit bare upon the snow 
and ice. 

The skin is the natural protector of the body, and 
when made to serve this protective purpose one is 
not made uncomfortable or sick by every change in 
temperature or by being caught in the rain. Our 
civilized life has caused the skin to deteriorate. 
From infancy we are smothered in clothes and pro¬ 
tected from the cold until the skin loses much of its 
power of protecting the body. 

One should accustom himself to wear as few 
clothes as is consistent with comfort and decency. 
But this does not mean the very irregular distribu¬ 
tion of clothing such as we frequently see upon the 
ultra-modern “flapper.” In this case the protective 
forces of the body are hard pressed to take care of 
the circulation and reactions when some parts are 
oversupplied with clothing and others far under¬ 
supplied. If clothing is to be light it should be com¬ 
paratively equally distributed over the entire body. 

In winter one should wear light-colored and light¬ 
weight underclothing, and wear the heavier outer 
clothing so that part of it can be removed upon 
entering a warm building. We keep our rooms and 
buildings at about summer heat in the winter; and 
to sit in these rooms, covered with heavy underwear 
259 


SKIN TROUBLES 


and heavy outer clothing, is to overheat the body, 
weaken the skin, and invite disease. Even light 
outer clothing cannot save the skin and body when 
heavy underwear is used in warm buildings. Only 
those who are out of doors for hours at a time in 
winter have a legitimate excuse for wearing heavy 
underwear; and even these, or many of them, would 
be really warmer with light underclothing if they 
took proper care of the skin in other respects, es¬ 
pecially by exercise and friction and cold baths. 
Overheating the skin lessens its reactive powers and 
makes it less resistant not alone to changes of tem¬ 
perature but to disease influences as well. For the 
highest physical vigor and development there should 
be some exposure to cold—not of the face alone, 
but of the body. Wear light porous underclothing, 
and heavy woolen but porous materials on the out¬ 
side, but add or remove outer clothing “in layers” 
according to the changes in temperature. Don’t be 
guided by the calendar; be guided by the tempera¬ 
ture. 

The importance of sunlight as a necessary factor 
in animal as in plant nutrition is becoming more and 
more recognized. Only a few years ago the whole 
orthodox world ridiculed the advocates of natural 
methods for employing the sun bath; but to-day 
they are rapidly adopting this means of restoring 
and maintaining health, and some even have the 
audacity to claim that they themselves originated the 
idea! 

The color of clothing affects body health and 
skin health to a great extent. Dark colors exclude 
the sun’s rays from the body, while the lighter hues 
260 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


permit their access to the body. Black is the great¬ 
est offender in this respect, while white offends the 
least. Khaki also offends but little. Black not only 
excludes the sun’s rays, but it absorbs the heat rays, 
thus causing one to suffer more from heat. The 
nearer the clothing approaches white in color the 
better for the wearer, while the nearer it approaches 
black the more unhealthful it is. In this particular 
women’s clothes generally are more healthful than 
men’s. Men’s suits usually are made of dark ma¬ 
terial. 

Cosmetics. Cosmetics are used in a vain en¬ 
deavor to imitate a healthy complexion, and to cover 
up and hide skin defects and blemishes rather than 
correct them. Many thousands of women and girls 
of to-day are ruining their complexions by a too 
liberal use of cosmetics. 

The natural beauty of a healthy skin is far supe¬ 
rior to any drug-store “complexion” that ever was 
concocted. But such beauty is based on good health 
and pure blood and would require that we abandon 
a few of our pet vices. The majority of mankind 
would much prefer to retain these vices and get 
along with a cheap imitation of a healthy complex¬ 
ion. This is the worst feature of the cosmetic evil 
—it enables those who are sick and too indolent to 
get well, to make themselves “presentable,” though 
all that some need is a shroud to make them “living 
corpses,” while others give good imitations of the 
bedaubing work of amateur color artists. 

The best “cosmetic” for any face is rich, pure 
blood built by proper food, fresh air, exercise, out¬ 
door life, sufficient relaxation, and temperate habits. 

261 


SKIN TROUBLES 


Cheeks that are “painted” in this manner possess a 
beauty that no chemist can hope ever to imitate. 
This complexion will not wash off and is not injured 
by a little perspiration, nor does one need to worry 
continually whether or not it is “on straight.” In 
fact, the things that “ruin” artificial complexions 
increase the beauty of natural complexions. 

Massage often is employed to beautify the face. 
Harsh massage or massage improperly given may 
coarsen the skin or stretch the skin and subcutane¬ 
ous layers and cause the skin to sag. But properly 
applied massage is of benefit in that it improves the 
circulation in the tissues, hence improves their nour¬ 
ishment and contour. The color brought into the 
cheeks by massage is there temporarily, but when 
the treatment is given with moderate frequency the 
improvement in color tends to become permament. 
Massage wrongfully applied easily can do more 
harm than the best massage possibly can do good. 
Never submit to massage by one who has not had 
a thorough preparatory training course. Electric 
massage especially is very apt to be injurious. While 
in some cases skillful massage may be of benefit, 
there are safer means within the reach of most 
people. One explanation of the popularity of mas¬ 
sage is that it permits the individual to be lazy and 
self-indulgent while they “let George do it.” 

The Hair. In caring for the hair it should be 
known that luxuriant hair depends upon a rich blood 
supply to the scalp and hair roots, and not upon 
some “wonderful” tonic or shampoo. Keep the 
scalp clean, massage the scalp with the finger tips, 
pull the hair by running the fingers through it while 
262 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


pressed together, brush the hair frequently and 
thoroughly, let plenty of sunlight and air come in 
contact with it, wear no tight hat that interferes 
with the circulation in the scalp, keep generally 
healthy, and the hair will be as full in quantity and 
as beautiful in appearance as it is possible for it to 
be considering hereditary influences and age. Those 
who are interested in care of the hair should secure 
my book “Hair Culture.” 

The Hands. The skin of the hands reflects in 
large measure the health of the skin of the body as 
a whole. Undue exposure, of course, to wind or 
cold or dampness, and especially to harsh substances 
and hot soapy dishwater, may make the hands un¬ 
sightly when the remainder of the skin is in good 
or fair condition; and it also may make the nails 
brittle. 

Many people are too hasty in their hand bathing, 
failing to remove grime that collects from a thou¬ 
sand surfaces touched by the hands. The hands 
should be bathed thoroughly, warm water being 
used, also a good grade of vegetable soap and a 
nail brush. The water should be soft if possible. 
A little borax may be added to hard water to soften 
it; a few drops of ammonia will be satisfactory. 
All soap should be rinsed from the hands, then the 
drying should be thorough. Especially in winter the 
final water application should be cold. Usually no 
creams or powders are necessary, but if the skin is 
harsh a little cold cream of good quality or olive 
oil may be rubbed in. This careful bathing of the 
hands tends to keep the nails in good condition. 

The Nails. The nails should not be bitten or cut 
263 


SKIN TROUBLES 


with scissors to shorten them. A nail file should be 
used, and this should be applied somewhat from 
the under surface of the nail rather than the upper 
surface or directly on the end. File the nails when 
they are driest—not when soft from bathing. Care 
should be taken not to dig into the quick when clean¬ 
ing the nails. Proper bathing and use of a nail 
brush will take out practically all the grime from 
beneath the nails. The modern method of dish¬ 
washing is with a dish mop, by which the hands for 
the most part can be kept out of the water. Keep 
the nail folds or cuticle of the top surface pushed 
back from the nail with wash cloth or towel, or use 
the end of the nail of a finger of the other hand, or 
orange-wood stick. This will prevent hangnails. 
If the nails are too brittle they may be softened 
somewhat by applying vaseline or cold cream. 
Gloves may be worn by women during sweeping 
and dusting. 

No elaborate treatment is necessary for the hands 
and nails, if the general health is looked after and 
the simple suggestions I have given are followed. 

Skin Hygiene. To sum up, then, the hygiene of 
the skin: 

1. Build the best blood possible, and improve its 
circulation. This is the first requisite. 

2. Tone and “harden” the skin by cold tonic 
baths, or begin with cool baths and gradually ac¬ 
custom the skin and reaction to progressively cooler 
baths. 

3. Keep the skin clean, but avoid oversoaping 
and overuse of relaxing baths. Moderation is al¬ 
ways the best practice. 


264 


HYGIENE OF THE SKIN 


4. Improve circulation, reaction, tone and texture 
by regular friction baths. 

5. Treat the skin to sun baths when possible, and 
let it know the feel of air in direct contact daily. 

6. Avoid coddling the skin with heavy clothing, 
heavy underwear, closely woven clothing, and over¬ 
heated rooms and offices. Use light-colored clothing 
when possible; avoid constant use of black or dark 
clothing. Wear porous materials. 

7. Avoid drug-store complexions—chemical cos¬ 
metics. Use the “cosmetics” of Nature and develop 
a complexion that won’t rub off. Massage or have 
massaged the face only expertly if at all; better too 
little (if possible) than too much. 

8. Do not shun cold and reasonable exposure. 
They help build health. 


265 


CHAPTER VIII 


How to Have a Beautiful Skin 

B EAUTY is more than skin deep. True beauty 
of the skin lies a great deal deeper than the 
skin. Much of the so-called “beauty” of to-day is 
not even skin deep. Often it is only as deep as the 
rouge and powder employed by countless numbers 
of girls and women who rely upon these cosmetics 
for their complexions. 

The use of cosmetics now is almost universal, 
though recently “cosmeticians” and “beauticians” 
have considered starting a “drive” to enlist the sen¬ 
sible or disinterested unpowdered and unrouged 
four million women (one-tenth of the woman popu¬ 
lation) as users of powders and cosmetics. As long 
as there is money to be made in the manufacture and 
advertising they will try to persuade most of the 
feminine portion of the population to employ them. 
Recent archaeological discoveries show that women 
three, four and five thousand years ago were ad¬ 
dicted to the use of cosmetics, though it is reason¬ 
able to presume that in those past ages only the 
indolent, sensual-loving courtesans and women of 
means employed them—not the mass of women. 
Vanity cases, perfume jars, rouge pots, and the 
chemicals themselves have been discovered after 
having been buried for many centuries. Thus it 
appears that the natural tendency of women is to 
get something in the way of an alluring coloring 
without effort. But in bygone centuries the women 
266 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


were not supposed to be very much enlightened! 

The employment of cosmetics arises from a 
double source. First, there is the innate desire of 
the human being to ornament or decorate the body, 
particularly those parts that possess an appeal to 
the opposite sex; and, second, the average woman 
realizes that her complexion is unattractive and that 
this mars her beauty. As in most other things, in¬ 
stead of seeking and correcting the cause of the 
blotched, coarse, sallow or defective skin, effort is 
made to patch and cover up the blemishes and let 
it go at that. The money annually spent for cold 
creams, skin whiteners, powders, rouges, lip sticks, 
eyebrow pencils, etc., in America alone soon would 
pay the entire costs of the World War. 

Cosmetic Injuries. The employment of creams, 
lotions, clays, and chemical preparations weakens 
and deteriorates the skin and renders it less resist¬ 
ant to external forces. In its weakened condition, 
these cosmetics may and do injure the skin. For 
one thing, the skin becomes tender and easily in¬ 
fected. Skin bleaches or whiteners particularly are 
injurious to the skin. Continued use of these prep¬ 
arations coarsens the skin, enlarges the pores, de¬ 
stroys skin elasticity, injures the circulation, creates 
wrinkles, and otherwise produces changes that even¬ 
tually make a true complexion and good skin tex¬ 
ture well-nigh or completely impossible. 

Many of the face powders used contain lead, and 
cases of lead poisoning have been traced to them. 
Doubtless many of the obscure pains and aches 
from which so many women suffer are due to this 
same cause, or to the drugs or poisons which have 
267 


SKIN TROUBLES 


been absorbed from constant use. However, most 
powders are nonpoisonous, their chief harm lying 
in the fact that they clog the pores of the skin of 
the face and neck. 

The bleaching agents that are so extensively ad¬ 
vertised to give you a new skin in from 20 minutes to 
three days are decidedly injurious to the skin. Be¬ 
sides actually killing the outer layers of the skin, 
they cause a contraction of the minute blood vessels 
of the face, thus forcing the blood out of the skin 
and giving to the skin a white, corpse-like appear¬ 
ance. 

The following, from the “Practical Medical 
Series” (1924, pages 25 and 26), will serve to 
open the eyes of readers to the dangers they run 
when employing the cosmetics and “beautifiers” that 
are in altogether too much use: 

“Cole, in a timely article, calls attention to the 
different types of poisonous preparations that go 
into the manufacture of many cosmetics, and lists 
lead, mercury, bismuth, arsenic, silver compounds, 
salicylic acid, resorcinol, phenol bodies, pyrogallic 
acid, nitric acid, calcium, barium, wood alcohol and 
paraphenylendiamin as among those contained in 
these preparations. He cites cases of severe der¬ 
matitis resulting from the use of a hair dye con¬ 
taining 23 per cent of lead acetate, and tells of cases 
of lead neuritis and others of dermatitis resulting 
from dyes containing this drug. Lead is also con¬ 
tained in some face enamels and creams and certain 
face powders, and a number of cases of lead poison¬ 
ing have followed their use. Mercury is used vari¬ 
ously in cosmetics, sometimes in hair dyes, but more 
268 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


often in face creams and skin bleaches. The well- 
known skin bleaches on the market contain respec¬ 
tively 33 and 50 per cent of ammoniated mercury. 
This drug is also employed in the form of bichlo¬ 
ride and calomel, and cases of bluish discoloration 
of the skin of the face, as described by Goeckeiman, 
are recognized. The so called ‘rice powders’ fre¬ 
quently contain bismuth, and those using them may 
show symptoms of clamminess of the skin, nausea 
and spasms. Salicylic acid, resorcinol and phenol 
bodies enter into the composition of some hair 
tonics, and dermatitis may follow their use. 

“Wood alcohol often enters into the manufacture 
of hair tonics, bay rum and toilet waters. Silver 
compounds and pyrogallic acid enter mostly into the 
manufacture of hair dyes, and may endanger the 
patient in the same way as lead or mercury. Cal¬ 
cium and barium used in the manufacture of depila¬ 
tories (hair removers) frequently give rise to der¬ 
matitis. 

“Paraphenylendiamin, commonly used in hair 
dyes, is said by the author to be the most dangerous 
drug of them all. The dermatitis following its use 
may spread over the entire body, and the eruption 
is characterized by its persistency, as it may last for 
many weeks. Symptoms of general intoxication 
also have been reported. He states that this drug 
is also used in the mascara employed to stain the 
eyelashes, and persistent dermatitis may follow its 
use. The various preparations used to sleek down 
the hair also give rise frequently to dermatitis 
of the face, neck and hands. The author recom¬ 
mends the education of the public and closer regula- 
269 


SKIN TROUBLES 


tion of the sale of cosmetics as among the steps to 
be taken to alleviate the situation.” 

It is difficult to understand why the desire for 
financial gain will lead anyone to manufacture and 
sell preparations that have such possibilities for 
harm to their users. But at the same time it is no 
less difficult to understand how a profession that is 
constantly pouring these very drugs down the 
throats of the sick and injecting them directly into 
the blood and tissues, can have the face to attempt 
to educate the public of the dangers of applying 
them to the skin and hair! If the chemicals do such 
things to the skin, and in some instances even pro¬ 
duce a general intoxication, what must they do to 
the more delicate and less resistant structures of the 
interior of the body? They should be kept off the 
body, it is true; but they should be kept out of 
the body, as well. 

The skins of all women are not of an equally 
good texture. However, few if any women possess 
a skin that naturally is displeasing. The rough, 
coarse, blotchy skins one meets almost everywhere 
are due to lack of care, disease, rough usage, or 
cosmetic preparations, or to one or all of them. 
Woman’s skin naturally is of a fine, delicate texture; 
but it readily becomes coarse and ugly if mistreated, 
neglected, or roughly used. 

Diet. As I have emphasized before, diet is one 
of the chief factors in producing a beautiful skin, or 
an unattractive skin. Pimples, blackheads, a too- 
dry or too-oily skin, a shiny skin (as a shiny nose), 
blotches, etc., almost always are the result of a diet 
consisting of white bread, pastries, candies, pickled 
270 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


“foods,” fried foods, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, tea, 
sugars, or excessive starches, or to a diet containing 
an excess of these over the wholesome and truly 
nourishing foods. The overuse of starchy or oily 
foods produces an oily or pimply skin. Such annoy¬ 
ing conditions often may be quickly corrected by 
proper diet, and need not be covered up with 
powder. 

A pale, anemic skin, which means colorless cheeks, 
is the result of poor nutrition, frequently from self- 
denial of nourishing foods, and should be overcome 
by increasing digestion, metabolism and nutrition in 
general rather than merely covered up. 

The unbalanced diet, especially when used in con¬ 
nection with excessive amounts of meats, also tends 
to produce constipation, which in itself produces 
pimples, blackness, sallowness, or other unsightly 
affections. The correction of the constipation by 
proper diet and exercise soon restores beauty to the 
skin. 

The proper diet for skin beauty should consist 
largely of fruits, vegetables and milk. Meats, 
cheese and eggs, and all starch foods, particularly 
grain foods, should be eaten in moderation. White 
bread, pastries, candies, drinks other than water 
and milk in some form, and fat and greasy foods 
should be wholly avoided. Skin health, as already 
pointed out, depends largely upon health of the 
body. The condition of the blood stream is mir¬ 
rored in the skin. Beware of any and all dietetic 
follies that tend to impair your health. Only a 
healthy skin is beautiful. 

It is impossible to devise menus that will be suit- 
271 


SKIN TROUBLES 


able for all possible conditions. But there are gen¬ 
eral rules that most persons can follow in meeting 
their food requirements. The desire of many is 
for definite menus. These should not be necessary 
if time is taken to make a little study of the subject 
of diet. I believe that I have said enough in pre¬ 
vious chapters to enable most people to select foods 
and combinations that will be beneficial and that 
will not tend to cause or aggravate or prolong their 
skin affections. The following few paragraphs 
will aid still further in outlining meals. The differ¬ 
ent classes of foods will be combined for conven¬ 
ience in groups. 

Group 1. Acid Fruits: Grapefruit, lemons, 
limes, pineapple, strawberries, sour oranges, sour 
cherries, sour plums, gooseberries. 

Group 2. Subacid Fruits: Apples, peaches, 
prunes, pears, apricots, grapes, some cherries and 
plums, berries other than strawberries and goose¬ 
berries. 

Group 3. Sweet Fruits: Dates, figs, raisins, per¬ 
simmons, bananas, some prunes. 

Group 4. Proteins: Eggs, milk, meat, cheese, 
nuts, fish, fowl, dried beans, peas and lentils, shell¬ 
fish, peanut butter. 

Group 5. Carbohydrates: Cereal products 
(white or wholewheat flour products, oatmeal, 
rice, corn, rye, barley), bananas, potatoes and sweet 
potatoes, chestnuts. 

Group 6. Fats: Cream, butter, olive oil, nut oil. 

Group 7. Mineral-Salt Vegetables: Asparagus, 
artichokes, beets, beet tops, Brussels sprouts, cab¬ 
bage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, dande- 
272 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


lion, eggplant, endive, German celery, green peas in 
pods, green peppers, kale, kohl-rabi, leek, lettuce, 
melons, mushrooms, okra, onions, oyster plant, pars¬ 
ley, parsnips, pumpkin, radishes, romaine, rosekale, 
spinach, squash, string beans, tomatoes, turnips, 
turnip tops, watercress. 

Group 8. Starchless Carbohydrates: Honey, 
maple sugar, sorghum and New Orleans molasses. 

In designing meals, the following combinations 
will be healthful and of benefit in clearing skins and 
in keeping them clear. Only one food of any group 
mentioned is to be taken in combination. 

Group 1 should be taken alone, either as break¬ 
fast, or 20 to 30 minutes before breakfast; or com¬ 
bined with Group 2 or Group 3, or with both 
Groups, 2 and 3; or with milk, though preferably 
not cherries; or with Group 4, with or without 
Group 7 added, but for dinner or supper, not for 
breakfast. No sugar should be used on any food 
in Group 1. 

Group 2 may be combined with Group 1 or Group 
3, or with both groups; or with Group 4 or Group 
7 or with both Groups 4 and 7; also with Group 6; 
or with Group 5 (but not potatoes or sweet pota¬ 
toes) by some people, who also could combine 
Groups 2, 5 and 7. When taken with milk or cere¬ 
als, or both, they may be taken for breakfast; but 
in the other combinations they should be taken for 
one of the later meals of the day. 

Group 3 combines well with Group 1 or Group 
2 or with both groups; with milk, cheese or peanut 
butter of Group 4 but not well with the other foods 
in this group; with Group 5, except potatoes and 
273 


SKIN TROUBLES 


sweet potatoes; with Group 6; and with Group 7 
and Group 8, though the last combination should 
be rigidly avoided by all who have skin defects and 
by most of those whose skin is easily affected by ab¬ 
normal products of digestion. Group 3 combines 
especially well with sweet milk, buttermilk or any 
cultured milk, also with any whole grain cereal, and 
any vegetable in Group 7. When taken with milk 
or with cereals an excellent though somewhat heavy 
breakfast is provided. The other combinations 
are best taken later in the day. 

Group 4 belongs to dinner (lunch) or supper 
(evening dinner). Except for milk, and probably 
(in some cases) eggs, cheese and peanut butter, the 
foods in this group should be taken sparingly and 
not more than three times a week. Except for 
milk, these foods combine best with Group 7, and 
it is much better to confine the combination to these 
two groups. However, nuts in combination with 
sweet or subacid fruits or with Group 7 agree well 
with cereals. Any form of flesh food combines 
satisfactorily with any food in Group 1 or Group 2. 

Group 5, except for whole grain cereals and per¬ 
haps bananas, belongs to some meal other than 
breakfast. Foods combining well with this group 
are Group 6 and Group 7, also milk. 

Group 6 is composed of foods that must be used 
cautiously by those who have skin defects or com¬ 
plexion faults. It combines, so far as digestion is 
concerned, with Group 2, Group 3, Group 5 and 
Group 7. The amount allowable of any of these 
foods is so small that, in proper combinations, they 
may be taken at any meal. 

274 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


Group 7 is the most important group of all, with 
the possible exception of Group 1. Some meals 
should be composed of no other foods than some 
of those in one or the other of these groups, in 
which cases more than one from the group may be 
taken. Also, the caution of using but one food 
from any group in any one meal does not apply to 
Group 7, since both cooked and uncooked foods in 
this group may be taken, and in raw salads any 
number from one to half a dozen green vegetables 
may be used. Combining groups are Groups 1, 2, 
3, 4, 5, 6—any one. Other combinations are: With 
Groups 1 or 2 and 4; 1 and 2 and 4; 2 or 3 and 5; 
2 or 3 and 6; 3 and 5 and 6. Do not make the 
mistake of using vinegar on any raw salads, or in 
any other way. Vinegar is a prolific cause of skin 
blemishes. It is better, also, to avoid mayonnaise, 
on account of the fat contained in it. Avoid more 
than bare tastes of salt. Learn the natural flavor 
of foods. 

Group 8 is a group that scarcely belongs in any 
diet, with the exception of small amounts of honey. 
Even those who must guard the skin carefully may 
be able to take small amounts of honey, with milk 
and any fruit especially, except perhaps those in 
Group 1. It agrees perfectly for many people when 
combined with Group 3 and whole grain cereals, or 
with the cereals and Group 7. Where the com- 
bination otherwise is satisfactory, Group 6 will not 
interfere when added to Group 8. Except with the 
smallest amounts of honey, milk should be taken in 
fair quantities when honey is used. 

The following plan is a good one for many who 
275 


SKIN TROUBLES 


have unsatisfactory complexions, and will benefit 
many cases even of eczema and acne: Fast from one 
to three days, drink a glass of cool water every 
hour. Then live on milk and rice water or barley 
water for a week or ten days, using two quarts of 
milk and one quart of water; take a glass every 
hour for twelve hours a day. Occasionally during 
the day, or on an occasional day, buttermilk or cul¬ 
tured milk (preferably acidophilous culture) may 
be substituted for the milk and cereal water. After 
this time, take a glass of hot water upon arising or 
immediately after the morning bath. Have any 
single fruit from Group 1 for breakfast. For 
luncheon have a slice or two of thoroughly toasted 
whole wheat bread; after finishing this, eat an 
apple, an orange, half a grapefruit, or lettuce as 
desired, or take one glass of any preferred milk, 
or a small bowl of clear vegetable soup. For din¬ 
ner have any food from Group 4, except milk, and 
one cooked and one raw vegetable from Group 7, 
but use meat only every second day; a dessert of 
any food in Group 2 may be used, either cooked or 
uncooked, but must not be cooked with sugar. 

Some cases would do well to take the strict milk 
diet for several weeks. Others might take milk 
only for from two to four days; or whole wheat 
bread and milk; or buttermilk or cultured milk; or 
milk toast; or vegetable broth; or fruits from 
Groups 1 and 2; or salads from Group 7. All of 
these, in fact, may be used in any case, but with a 
reasonably “substantial” diet between these limited 
diets. 

It is highly important that the bowels be kept 
276 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


active. Two or three bowel actions are necessary 
when on “full rations.” The above diets usually 
will take care of this function satisfactorily, espe¬ 
cially if there is regular general exercise. Some 
excellent but simple measures that will tend to nor¬ 
malize bowel activity may be used. Try eating a 
scraped raw turnip or carrot at night, or an apple 
at this time. Stewed fruits from Group 2 (un¬ 
sweetened) often are more laxative than the same 
fruits raw. Spinach and raw cabbage are espe¬ 
cially laxative vegetables. In most cases body bend¬ 
ings and twistings, and trunk-raising and leg-raising 
movements while reclining, also walking, will create 
normal bowel activity providing the diet is not di¬ 
rectly constipating. 

Cleanliness. The skin must be kept clean. This 
is as true of the skin of the body as of the skin of the 
face. However, it should be understood that ex¬ 
cessive washing and bathing are injurious to the 
skin, this being particularly true if hot water and 
soap are used. These deprive the skin of its very 
essential oil, leaving it dry and causing it to become 
rough and to crack. 

In bathing the face it is a good plan to use a 
cloth, since this is more cleansing than the hands. 
The cloth need not be coarse, but a coarse cloth not 
used too strenuously would be more cleansing and 
stimulating than a soft cloth. Another advantage 
of the cloth is that greater cleansing is possible 
without soap, and the less soap used the better for 
the skin. Most people are not careful when wash¬ 
ing the face to cleanse all parts equally well. Black¬ 
heads usually are more numerous on the wings of 
277 


SKIN TROUBLES 


the nose and the adjacent parts of the cheeks, and 
in the depression immediately above the chin. It is 
these regions that usually are not cleansed well; the 
hands or cloths used are rubbed over the cheeks, 
chin and forehead and the other parts but lightly 
touched. Needless to say, all parts should be 
bathed and cleansed equally well. 

The chemical preparations—rouge, powder, cold 
creams, lotions, etc.—employed on the face are 
worse for the skin, at least many skins, than ordi¬ 
nary dirt, and constitute a real filthiness of the skin. 
They stop up the skin pores as effectively as dirt, 
and usually with a gummy mixture that is not easily 
removed. Some of them paralyze the glands of 
the skin, thus preventing them from functioning. 
These things are merely white or colored dirt, and 
should be left off the face. If they are used, in spite 
of warnings of their dangers, special care should be 
taken to remove them frequently and to allow the 
skin to be free from them for as many hours a day 
as possible. 

Soaps. Unless one is exposed to dust and dirt, 
or in the heat of summer when perspiring freely, it 
is possible to cleanse the face thoroughly without 
soap, but at most soap should be used as sparingly 
and as few times daily as possible. When the skin 
is rough or dry, soaps are particularly liable to ag¬ 
gravate the condition, especially soaps containing 
much lye. Soaps containing drugs, antiseptics, etc., 
may be of excellent quality, so far as the soaps 
themselves are concerned, but it is doubtful, how¬ 
ever, if the small amounts of chemicals used will 
have the supposed antisepticizing effect, since they 
278 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


are in contact with the skin for such short times at 
each application. These will not have any effect 
whatever in beautifying the complexion, and it is 
probable that they will injure it. When soap is 
necessary, use the purest, mildest soap obtainable, 
of vegetable fats and nonirritating in effect. 

Massage. Do not rely upon massage for a beau¬ 
tiful complexion. In fact, don’t expect a beautiful 
complexion from this measure. If the complexion 
will not be pleasing without it, if the habits in gen¬ 
eral are such as to prevent an attractive complexion, 
massage will accomplish nothing in that direction. 
At best it is but a minor auxiliary agent. However, 
skillfully applied it may be used as a finishing touch 
to a complexion that already is reasonably satis¬ 
factory. 

Sunshine and Air. Give the skin sunlight and air 
daily. The most beautiful complexions are those 
that are tinged with the glow of health produced 
by good acquaintance with these elements, and that 
are deepened in color slightly by them. If there is 
overexposure the skin may be thickened, toughened 
and coarsened and its beauty somewhat impaired. 
But even this condition is much more desirable than 
the pale, anemic or sallow complexion of the 
stranger to the elements. A healthy coat of tan is a 
decided improvement over the deathlike pallor or 
whiteness apparently so much preferred by many. 
The “white-as-a-lily” complexion is a sick com¬ 
plexion. Sunlight and air are essential to that 
peachlike bloom that rouge and powder are used to 
imitate. 

Drugs. Many drugs, when taken internally, pro- 
279 


SKIN TROUBLES 


duce pimples, pustules, and discolorations of the 
skin. If one desires a beautiful complexion it is 
necessary that drugs of all kinds be avoided under 
any and all circumstances. These never build 
health. On the contrary, they lower vital functions, 
possibly wreck the health; and any degree of low¬ 
ered health spells ruin to the complexion, at least 
the complexion is not all that it might have been. 
If there is any abnormal physical condition for 
which drugs usually are prescribed, it is quite evident 
that the entire organism needs an “overhauling,” 
and this is best done by adopting those numerous 
natural health factors that I have emphasized in 
this book. 

Exercise. The general health of the body is the 
very foundation of a beautiful skin. Exercise is one 
of the most important requisites of health. More 
than this, however, perfect cleanliness of the skin, 
from within outward, demands that sweating take 
place. Vigorous exercise that opens the pores of 
the skin and produces copious perspiration is essen¬ 
tial to the greatest and most enduring beauty of the 
skin. Exercise should be taken daily, though it 
often is impossible during the cold months to ex¬ 
ercise to the point of perspiration without making 
too great a demand upon one’s energies. Under 
such circumstances there should be sufficient exer¬ 
cise daily to stimulate heart action and respiration 
and to bring about a glowing warmth. This alone 
will produce an opening of the pores, through 
which there will be an increase in invisible perspira¬ 
tion if not an increase to visible perspiration. 

Brisk walks in the fresh air and sunshine will 
280 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


supply sun, air and exercise, and are health-build¬ 
ing in other ways. But even if the sun is not shin¬ 
ing one should walk, for the benefit of the air and 
the exercise. It is claimed, and with good reason, 
that the complexion is benefited by moist atmos¬ 
phere, as in fogs, mists, rains and snows, as much 
as by sunlight. Hence, there is no kind of weather 
which one should shun. 

The exercises illustrated in this volume have a 
different purpose from general exercises and walk¬ 
ing. In many people, especially those who use vari¬ 
ous preparations upon the face, the blood supply 
is deficient in the skin of the face. The purpose of 
the exercises illustrated is to increase the circula¬ 
tion in the face. Whether or not one has pimples 
and other blotches and blemishes on the face, the 
exercises will be of benefit in improving the complex¬ 
ion. The extra blood that they bring to the face 
does not remain, of course; it circulates through the 
vessels and joins the general circulation. When 
leaving the skin it takes with it a greater amount 
of the broken-down cells and the waste products 
of and in the active cells than is taken by the blood 
under ordinary conditions. Not only this, but the 
increased quantity of blood permits of better skin 
nutrition, for there is more nourishment brought to 
this organ, especially when the proper elements are 
supplied by a proper diet. Furthermore, in time 
the local circulation becomes permanently improved, 
thus creating a complexion that endures. 

The exercises should be taken once a day at first, 
later twice a day. They may, in fact, be taken at 
any time of the day, and some of them several times 
281 


SKIN TROUBLES 


a day. They may be combined with the general 
exercises or taken as a separate “system.” Elderly 
people or those who have high blood pressure or 
hardening of the arteries should avoid them or take 
them with considerable caution. Those who easily 
are made dizzy will find that if they begin the ex¬ 
ercises in moderation and gradually increase the 
number of movements and the number of exercises 
used the dizziness will gradually disappear. 

Rest and Sleep. Throughout the universe ebb 
and flow, activity and rest, sleep and wakefulness 
are the rule. Whether one’s chief duties or pleas¬ 
ures are physical or mental, rest, relaxation and 
sleep are essential to health. There can be no bene^ 
fit from physical exercise unless there is a period 
of relaxation of corresponding length or degree. 
Building takes place only during rest. Many people 
are incessantly busy when awake, and are so tense 
when they lie down to sleep that full relaxation does 
not take place even when they do sleep. Many use 
up vast amounts of energy by useless physical and 
mental activities—perhaps such nonsensical actions 
as tapping the fingers or toes when sitting, making 
needless and meaningless motions with the hands, 
screwing the face In various out-of-shape grimaces; 
or there is constant fretting and worry and cares 
that accomplish nothing but lowering of the health. 
The present age is one of countless ways of expend¬ 
ing energy, especially nervous energy from mental, 
psychic, social and sexual activities. 

Business cares or problems and every other occu¬ 
pant of the mind should be routed a few times daily, 
and especially just before sleep comes, except that 
282 


HOW TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SKIN 


cheerful thoughts or constructive thoughts that re¬ 
quire no deep analysis or processes of thinking aid 
in bringing that relaxation that in turn brings re¬ 
freshing and beautifying sleep. But sleep should 
not be overdone. Eight hours out of 24 will be 
enough to spend in sleep for all those who are not 
nervously exhausted. Some really require nine or 
ten or more hours of sleep a night, for at least sev¬ 
eral nights in succession, with perhaps a short sleep 
during the daylight hours, in order to restore the 
nerves to proper equilibrium. 

Relaxation at night and just before retiring is not 
all the relaxation one needs. At every opportunity 
during the day one should drop mental and physical 
activities and just “slump” for a while. Even a 
few moments of this complete relaxation occa¬ 
sionally during the day will conserve energies and, 
if the habits are right otherwise, permit of restora¬ 
tion of energies to normal. 

To recapitulate briefly, when it is desired to de¬ 
velop a beautiful complexion from one defective in 
any degree or manner, it is necessary to correct all 
bad habits. Clean out the body by means of the 
fast and an eliminating diet, and follow this with a 
sensible diet to keep the body clean inside. Keep 
clean outside, also, but don’t overdo the cleaning 
process. Build up the general health and keep it 
at the highest point possible. 

[the end] 


283 


8 a 9 








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